Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2009

Description

Brian Croser really needs no introduction.  Having founded the iconic winery Petaluma in the 70’s, Brian is recognised as Australia’s leading exponent of terroir driven wines.  He has been awarded the Order of Australia, Decanter Wine Magazine ‘Man of the Year’ and many other accolades for his life long contribution and service to the Australian wine industry.  Having sold Petaluma in 2001, the Croser family, along with their business partners the Bollinger Champagne family set up Tapanappa Wines on some of the countries most distinguised vineyard sites; 30 year old Tiers Vineyard, Piccadilly Valley, Adelaide Hills; 35 year old Whalebone Cabernet/Shiraz vineyard in Wrattonbully and pioneering Foggy Hill Pinot Noir Vineyard on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia.
Intense black currant and dusty, herb and spice edge of Cabernet Sauvignon tinged with the anise and blackberry of Shiraz.  The flavours are intense but refined with the freshness and vibrancy of Cabernet accentuated by the smoky and minty hallmarks of the Whalebone terroir.  The most endearing aspect of this cool vintage wine is the beautiful and significant tannin structure folding into an even mouth coating savoury finish.  2009 was a great vintage at the Whalebone Vineyard and the wine will reward cellaring for at least two decades.   This wine “is a pure expression of the unique terroir of the Whalebone Vineyard.”   The terroir delivers complexity involving the aroma and flavour of dusty earth and Eucalypt smoke.  The aroma is complex and powerful, dominated by ripe blackberry and plum fruit. Liquorice, cellar earth, clove and leather are layered on the foundation of fruit aroma.  A finely textured palate with a sweet fruit core and dry grainy tannin finish are hallmarks of a wine of pedigree.  Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz is grown and made to benefit from bottle age.
96 points James Halliday … “An 84/16% blend aged for 22 months in 70% new French oak. Blackcurrant fruit is the main driver, albeit backed up on the mid-palate by more fleshy shiraz; it is medium-bodied, perfectly balanced, the tannins silky, the oak not at all over the top, the finish long.”
RRP $61