Recognition

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 maturation period in barriques. After destemming and a short cold soak, an eleven day ferment and then seven days on skins.

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

Complex and stylish, the gorgeously expressed bouquet shows dark berry, charcuterie, porcini
and toasted nut aromas, leading to a concentrated palate offering plush texture backed by layers
of fine, grainy tannins. Multi-layered and firmly structured, this is sensually satisfying with a
persistent, engaging finish.

At its best: now to 2030.

 » Read more about: “Complex and stylish” 95 Points | Sam Kim | Wine Orbit – Brian Croser Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2017  »

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 your tongue in a very stylish way. This is a masterclass in balance with the 55% merlot and 45% cabernet franc from Wrattonbully in South Australia spending almost 18 months in French oak (50% new) adding to the palate interest but never intruding.

 » Read more about: “A masterclass in balance” 95 Points | Winsor Dobbin – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019  »

Tapanappa Adelaide Hills B&V Vineyard Syrah 2021, $60.

Confusingly, this new, limited-edition model from the Croser stable is from Mount Barker SA, not the more common Mt Barker WA. Regardless it’s amazingly fragrant and exceptionally easy to drink despite its nearly 15 per cent.

9.5/10

 » Read more about: “Amazingly fragrant and exceptionally easy to drink”  – 9.5/10 | Max Crus Wine Commentator – Tapanappa B&V Vineyard Syrah 2021  »

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 for the rich and fashionable.

9.5/10

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

Tapanappa Piccadilly Valley Tiers Vineyard (Alt. 450m) Chardonnay 2023, $110.

About as much going on as a chardonnay can provide and all of it good. Somewhat lighter than exxy chardonnays are renowned, and better for it. Alas, few will discover what chardonnay can be, and true, it is merely different in the end and depends what you prefer,

 » Read more about: “About as much going on as a chardonnay can provide”  – 9.7/10 | Max Crus Wine Commentator – Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2023  »

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 vintage of the previous 15 years (2005-2019), a meagre 3 tonnes of fruit was harvested per hectare due to poor fruit set.

 » Read more about: “Absolutely brilliant.” 96 points | Qwine Reviews – Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019  »

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 vintage of the previous 15 years (2005-2019), a tiny 2.5 tonnes of fruit was harvested per hectare due to poor fruit set.

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

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, black berries, cherry, violets, oregano, baking spices and graphite. To taste it’s smooth, fine-edged and,

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

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 five years-old, this charming Merlot Cabernet Franc remains very young at heart and tight in structure.

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

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 feature, and a firm drying finish. Young and tight rigth now with potential to improve in bottle.

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

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 overall feel – a strong core of gravel, graphite and baked earth flavours tightly bound over an extremely long finish.

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

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 absolutly top echelon. Blackcurrant, bay leaves, cedarwood, beetroot and kirsch flavours drum captivatingly through the palate and on through the long,

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

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 is awash with shiraz’s plush, sweet, plum-driven fruit. In other words this is a textbook example of this blend: cabernet builds the foundation,

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

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, cocoa powder richness, plenty of blonde tobacco too, some fresh tomato acidity, and it’s quite dusty and tannic on a finish of good length.

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

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 drying.

92 Points

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

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 tightly structured, tense and textured dry with firm tannins. Lovely ripe and concentrated dark fruit echo the nose,

 » Read more about: “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  »

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 with a tight physique and boasts perfectly ripe fruit at its core. Flavours of blueberry,

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

Enticing citrus, orchard fruit and grilled cashew notes flow and swirl around the simmering acidity and fine creamy texture and propel towards the enchanting, long finish.

 » Read more about: “Enchanting, long finish.”  – 95 Points, Gold | Decanter World Wide Awards – Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2023  »

Inviting, with quince, candied lemon and fresh pineapple juice leading to a palate of apple, white peach, vanilla and coconut.

 » Read more about: “Inviting”  – 92 Points, Silver | Decanter World Wide Awards – Tapanappa Tiers 1.5M Vineyard Chardonnay 2023  »

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 light floral lift and a little spice. Love the texture here. It’s medium bodied but layered with a thread of fine chalky tannin and fine-grained oak lacing it together perfectly.

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

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 with a trace of purple. The nose has an engaging combination of plush red fruits with a little earthy licorice and cedar.

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

South Australia’s wine story includes many well-worn tales of adventures into the unknown, maddening enterprise and celebrated family sagas. But then there are the more secret histories, which live on today in wines that reflect their colourful stories. Here, we explore the lesser-known side to South Australia’s iconic wine industry.

Let’s get this secret history business off to a seriously big picture start,

 » Read more about: History in a bottle – Whale of a time  »

After 55 vintages in Australia, you might surmise I have seen it all. Hot years, cold years, wet years, drought years, big crops, small crops, no crop. In 1983, the “Ash Wednesday” fire year, the fire was followed by a tropical deluge. We harvested no grapes from Clare or Coonawarra. Piccadilly Valley was not yet in production.

 » Read more about: Tapanappa 2024 Vintage Report  »