Recognition

Category: 2019

“Something to savour and ponder over now, or put it away for decades.”  – 95 points | Regan Drew | Vino Notebook – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019

Author: Regan Drew
Source: Vino Notebook
Date: Aug 2024

Merlot (55%) and Cabernet Franc (45%) blend with fruit grown on the 37 million year old soils of the 45 year old Tapanappa Whalebone vineyard. Bottled under cork. 2019 was warm and dry and only recevied 72% of ‘normal’ growing …

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“Medium fleshed with length and complex layering”  – 94 points | Regan Drew | Vino Notebook – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2019

Author: Regan Drew
Source: Vino Notebook
Date: Aug 2024

Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), Shiraz (15%) fruit grown on the 37 million year old soils of the Tapanappa Whalebone vineyard. Bottled under cork. 2019 was warm and dry, and ‘meagre’ harvest of 2.5 tonnes per hectare due to poor fruit set …

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“The bouquet and flavours are mellowing nicely ” 92 Points | Huon Hooke | The Real Review– Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019

Author: Huon Hooke
Source: The Real Review
Date: Aug 2024

Medium depth of ruby to brick-red hue, the bouquet scented with pot-pourri and sandalwood, a hint of tapenade or olive paste, while the palate is full bodied and quite firm, with lashings of grippy tannins that would appreciate hearty protein …

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“Full bodied red worthwhile cellaring. ” 93 Points | Huon Hooke | The Real Review– Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2019

Author: Huon Hooke
Source: The Real Review
Date: Aug 2024

Good depth and hue of colour, holding its age well, the bouquet suggesting camphor, green leaves, a hint of eucalyptus, and crushed peppercorns, while the palate is very firm and grippy, needing a hearty piece of steak to combat the …

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“Enjoyable drinking, but will reward cellaring. ” 5 Stars | Lester Jesberg | Winewise– Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2019

Author: Lester Jesberg
Source: WineWise
Date: Aug 2024

Impressively fresh, perfectly ripe blackcurrant and dark berry aromas are supported by high quality oak. The long palate offers fine, silky tannins. Enjoyable drinking, but will reward cellaring.  

4.5 stars

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“If you love the wines of Bordeaux, you’ll understand.  ” 5 Stars | Lester Jesberg | Winewise– Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019

Author: Lester Jesberg
Source: Winewise
Date: Aug 2024

The nose is complex and intriguing, more secondary than primary, showing hints of tobacco leaf. A very finely structured, lengthy, savoury palate sets the seal on the excellence of this wine. If you love the wines of Bordeaux, you’ll understand.  …

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“An attractive style for drinking over the best part of the next decade.” 94 Points | Ken Gargett | Wine Pilot– Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2019

Author: Ken Gargett
Source: Wine Pilot
Date: Aug 2024

A warm and dry vintage for the region in 2019, which helped ensure that the Whalebone Vineyard, planted 45 years ago, had a very small yield. The wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet and 15% Shiraz. The Shiraz comes …

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“Definitely one for the cellar.” 90 Points | Ken Gargett | Wine Pilot– Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019

Author: Ken Gargett
Source: Wine Pilot
Date: Aug 2024

Everything about this wine suggests it is one for the long haul. Both the Merlot and Cabernet Franc come from the Whalebone Vineyard. The blend is 55% Merlot and 45% Cab Franc with blending only just before a seventeen month …

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“A masterclass in balance” 95 Points | Winsor Dobbin – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019

Author: Winsor Dobbin
Source: Winsor's Choice
Date: Jul 2024

This is a stunning Australian nod to the wines of St Emilion on Bordeaux’s right bank, a compelling blend of two red grape varieties that often take a back seat but shine here with waves of flavours gently cascading onto …

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“Scrumptious red wine for the rich and fashionable.” 9.5/10 | Max Crus Wine Commentator – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019

Author: Simon Hughes
Source: Max Crus Wine Commentator
Date: Jul 2024

Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard (Wrattonbully) Merlot Cabernet Franc, 2019, $90.

This is about as fashionable as merlot gets, however, just because you have money, doesn’t mean you have taste, in which case buy this to cover it up. Scrumptious red wine …

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“Absolutely brilliant.” 96 points | Qwine Reviews – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019

Author:
Source: Qwine Reviews
Date: Jun 2024

Absolutely brilliant. A captivating and detailed wine with veneers of interest peeling back with ease, give this Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc some time and you’ll be rewarded. Three days of tasting certainly highlighted that.

From the last hot …

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“An excellent wine that will comfortably age beyond a decade.” 95 points | Qwine Reviews – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2019

Author:
Source: Qwine Reviews
Date: Jun 2024

The synergy and fusion captivate with this Tapanappa Whalebone Cabernet Shiraz. Joy and pleasure seep through every pore. A wine that evolved fabulously over three days of tasting, it’s one to tuck away, that’s for sure.

From the last hot …

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“A great Aussie classic blend meets a Goldilocks kind of vintage” 95 points – Jeni Port | Wine Pilot – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2019

Author: Jeni Port
Source: Wine Pilot
Date: Jun 2024

A great Aussie classic blend meets a Goldilocks kind of vintage – not too hot, not too cold – and the result is one mighty delicious wine. Bounces in ripe fruit highlighting the beauty of both grapes in black plum, …

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“There’s much to delight in.” 95 points – Jeni Port | Wine Pilot – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019

Author: Jeni Port
Source: Wine Pilot
Date: Jun 2024

Question: do you plan to drink this Wrattonbully red soon? If yes, then some advice. It needs air – a lot of swishing of air in the glass or, better still, a decant – and then watch it open. While …

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“A strong heart of tannins is the key feature” 93 points – Angus Hughson | Wine Pilot – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2019

Author: Angus Hughson
Source: Wine Pilot
Date: Jun 2024

This 2019 Cabernet Shiraz is quite a different beast from the Merlot Cabernet Franc from the same vintage showing more poise and finesse with red currant, cedar and earthy tones prominent. Again a strong heart of tannins is the key …

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“Broody and densely packed” 95 points – Angus Hughson | Wine Pilot – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019

Author: Angus Hughson
Source: Wine Pilot
Date: Jun 2024

This broody and densely packed 2019 Merlot Cabernet Franc is exceptional and offers up muscular aromas of meat stock, blackberry and graphite with a strong backbone of new French oak. That density continues on the palate with a firm tannic …

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“Absolutly top echelon” 96 Points – Campbell Mattinson | Halliday Wine Companion – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019

Author: Campbell Mattinson
Source: Halliday Wine Companion
Date: Jun 2024

Blend of merlot and cabernet franc. Some wines just put you at ease, from the outset. The volume of fruit here matched to the sure swagger of tannin speaks in no uncertain terms of the quality on offer. This is …

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“Textbook example of this blend” 95 Points – Campbell Mattinson | Halliday Wine Companion – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2019

Author: Campbell Mattinson
Source: Halliday Wine Companion
Date: Jun 2024

The effect of Shiraz on this blend is significant. It’s a wine threaded with herbal, tobacco-like graphite and mint notes, and structurally it feels very cabernet too, in that the tannin has a strictness to it. But then the mid-palate …

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“Does have plenty of oomph and character” 92 Points – Gary Walsh | Wine Front – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019

Author: Gary Walsh
Source: Wine Front
Date: Jun 2024

Blackcurrant, redcurrant, hazelnut and chocolate (praline), a fair amount of mint, sage and bay leaf adds perfume, along with some spice and cedar oak. It also has a dusty amaro-like quality, which I like. Medium to full-bodied, dusty and peppery, …

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“Pulls cool and long on the finish” 92 Points – Gary Walsh | Wine Front – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2019

Author: Gary Walsh
Source: Wine Front
Date: Jun 2024

Lots of liquorice, mint, black fruit, camphor, cedar. Medium to full-bodied, lots of black fruit and mint, tobacco laced, with grainy tannin grip, shows some warming alcohol, but pulls cool and long on the finish, albeit a little grainy and …

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“Has the soul of an Old World wine, but the charm of the New World” – Wine Worth Writing About – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019

Author:
Source: Wine Worth Writing About
Date: Jun 2024

Deep red ruby with a finely woven and complex nose of violets, orange zest, macerated strawberry and dried cherry tomato, black fruits, fig leaf, mint tea, savoury undergrowth, tobacco, cedar and crushed gravel minerality.

In the mouth it’s juicy, but …

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“Elegant, finely structured with a tight physique” – Wines Worth Writing About – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2019

Author:
Source: Wines Worth Writing About
Date: Jun 2024

Deep ruby with a beautiful nose of potpourri, a touch of lemon rind, raspberry licorice, brambly berries, cassis, bayleaf, thyme, Sicilian olive, roasted beef, pencil shavings, cedar and a sanguine mineral quality. 
In the mouth it’s dry, elegant, finely structured …

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“Could throw out a decent challenge to the Right Bank.” 97 points – Ray Jordan | Wine Pilot – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019

Author: Ray Jordan
Source: Wine Pilot
Date: Jun 2024

This is a 55% merlot and 45% cabernet franc blend made in a similar way to the cabernet shiraz. The colour is low intensity with bright crimson purple hues. The aroma shows superb black fruits, and dark plum with a

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“Elegant, refined and stylish.” 96 Points – Ray Jordan | Wine Pilot – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2019

Author: Ray Jordan
Source: Wine Pilot
Date: Jun 2024

Elegant, refined and stylish. The fruit comes from down at Wrattonbully and is taken up the winery in Piccadilly. Both varieties are kept separate during the fermentation and maturation stages before blending after 17 months in barriques. Bright crimson hues

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