The Intrepid Wino tastes a bottle of Yering Station Reserve Shiraz Viognier 2003 from the cellar, originally purchased from an online Langtons auction.
Tag Archives: Australia
Tahbilk 1860 Vines Shiraz Retrospective Tasting – 21/9/2015
When you start learning about wine in Australia, particularly Victorian wine, one of the first names you learn about is Tahbilk. There are a number of reasons why this is the case. The first is that it is one of the oldest in the country, and boasts some of the oldest shiraz vines to boot, not easy to do in the phylloxera-affected state of Victoria compared to South Australia. The second is that they make an iconic (and hugely under-appreciated) white wine ideal for ageing, in their Marsanne, particularly the 1927 vine wine. Thus Tahbilk has a soft spot for many wine industry professionals like myself.
So it was with great pleasure that I got invited as a “new-media” guest to the release of the 2010 vintage of the 1860 Vines Shiraz, celebrating its 150th birthday this year, with a number of very special people to taste through almost every vintage since its first release. It was thanks in part to former guest on The Vincast podcast Kathy Lane that I managed to get an invite, as her business Fireworks PR did an amazing job helping Tahbilk put it together at Vue de Monde.
Finding original-rooted pre-20th Century vines in Victoria is not easy, which adds to the lustre of this iconic wine. What helps these vines is the very sandy soils they are planted on, which the phylloxera aphid can’t live in. When current owner and CEO Alister Purbrick took over the business from his father, it was his decision to bottle a wine exclusively from these old vines. At the time Australia was only just coming out of its fortified wine-dominant production, as markets started to discover the quality of Australian dry red wine, particularly made from shiraz.
Below you will find my impressions of each of the vintages that were on offer. I strongly urge people to get their hands on some of the 2010 vintage as it is a belter, and as seen in this tasting the wines have immense ageing potential. I also urge people to subscribe to The Vincast podcast, as after the tasting I recorded an episode with Alister which was an amazing insight into how far the wine industry has come in the past 40+ years.
(Chateau) Tahbilk 1860 Vines Shiraz
Filed under Tasting Notes, Wine Events
The Vincast with Alex Head from Head Wines
Alex Head discovered a love and fascination of wine whilst studying sciences at Sydney University. After travelling on a gastronomic journey across Europe he was hooked. Many years were spent in iconic Sydney wine retail, before a tenure at Langton’s. This experience led a sea-change to the Barossa where he eventually established Head Wines. In the past almost ten years he was forged a reputation for producing some of the most exciting wines in the region, particularly those from Rhone Valley varieties.
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Alex Head
Let’s Taste – Best’s Great Western New Releases
Best’s Great Western is one of Victoria’s oldest and most-loved wine producing families, and will next year celebrate their 150th anniversary. They sent me three of their new release wines for me to taste; Riesling 2015, Bin. 1 Shiraz 2014 and Cabernet Sauvignon 2014. All three have a RRP of $25.00, and are now available.
Head to Different Drop to buy some Best’s wine, and be sure to use the special code INTREPIDWINO to get 10% off your purchase.
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Best’s New Releases
September 19, 2015 · 9:43 pm
The Vincast with Dan Buckle from Chandon Australia & Circe Wines
Dan Buckle is no slouch when it comes to winemaking, gaining experience at some of the most awarded wineries in Victoria. Having worked for Yering Station & Mount Langi Ghiran he joined Domaine Chandon Australia as the Chief Winemaker several years ago, breathing new life into their sparkling and still wines. Honouring his original entry into wine as a teenager, he also produces some of his own wines from the Mornington Peninsula under the Circe brand. He joins me on this episode of the podcast to chat about his journey.
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Subscribe to Intrepid Wino on YouTube and like a few videos, leave a comment too!
Follow The Vincast on Twitter and download all the previous episodes here
Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher or PlayerFM and don’t forget to rate and review!
Dan Buckle (photo courtesy Wine Companion)
Filed under Podcasts
Let’s Taste – Hochkirch Steinbruch Pinot Noir 2013
The Intrepid Wino (aka James Scarcebrook) tastes the Hochkirch Steinbruch Pinot Noir 2013, purchased from Blackhearts & Sparrows North Fitzroy.
Hochkirch Steinbruch Pinot Noir 2013
September 8, 2015 · 2:55 pm
Let’s Taste – Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 1998
I opened my last bottle of Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Cabernet Merlot 1998, and showed how best to open an older wine that may have a more fragile cork, in a very gentle way.
Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Cabernet Merlot 1998
September 8, 2015 · 2:43 pm
Let’s Taste – Charles Melton Nine Popes 2005
As I was tasting my other bottle of Charles Melton Nine Popes 2005 from my cellar, I thought I would also show you how to open a bottle of wine sealed under a screw-cap.
Charles Melton Nine Popes 2005
September 6, 2015 · 9:11 pm
Let’s Taste – Port Phillip Estate Pinot Noir 2006
I opened a bottle of Port Phillip Estate Pinot Noir 2006 from the Intrepid Cellar and shared my impressions. I also show you how to open a younger wine sealed with a cork, using a waiters friend.
Port Phillip Estate Pinot Noir 2006
September 6, 2015 · 8:59 pm
Let’s Taste – Moorooduc Wild Yeast Chardonnay 2004 & Ten Minutes by Tractor McCutcheon Pinot Noir 2005
At the girlfriend’s place for dinner with some friends, I opened a few wines from the cellar that originate from the Mornington Peninsula wine region of Victoria. They are The Moorooduc “Wild Yeast” Chardonnay 2004 & the Ten Minutes By Tractor McCutcheon Vineyard Pinot Noir 2005, both under screw-cap. Let me know what you think, and if you have any suggestions for wines I should taste leave me a comment. Like this video and subscribe to my channel for more videos like this.
Ten Minutes by Tractor McCutcheon Vineyard Pinot Noir 2005
September 6, 2015 · 8:30 pm
The Intrepid Wino 