The Auswine Forum

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Nice write up and great topic Sean
I really like tahbilk wines
Always seem to deliver great VFM

Thanks for the write up Sean...

I have a couple of stray bottles of the 2002 Tahbilk Shiraz and the Cabernet which I got a good deal on ex cellar door but didn't manage to finish before I went overseas ... has anybody tried one of those recently?

Great notes - would love to do an Eric Purbrick vertical sometime - but the 1860 vertical must have been a doozy

Nice write up Sean. You deserve a medal for services to Tahbilk!

I love the romance of Tahbilk, but find their wines rather old fashioned a la many South Australian wines. That's fine, but not for me.

I think the big 3 (shiraz, cab, marsanne) can be pretty decent, but the rest of the range is pretty dull.

Possibly an unfair comparison, but if you compare their wines with Seppelts, the gulf in quality and interest is huge IMO. The paucity of wineries in Nagambie tells you a lot.

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Sean, Great response.

Have you been to Bleasdale's? That's another amazing old winery. I guess there are quite a few Yalumba, Henschke, Seppelts/field (Vic and SA.)

Thanks indeed Sean - Tahbilk remains a sometimes fascination for me, especially the history and the story. And my history with the wines goes back at least 20 years as well........

.... however, I have found my tastes heading away somewhat from the 'standard' shiraz style, towards the Reserve (to the chagrin of my bank account ). The standard model doesn't excite like it used to, but the ESP Reserve (in the right years, and sometimes in the wrong years) is astonishingly good - but 3-4 times the price.

Tahbilk quite naturally is responding to market forces (and there perhaps is not a family owned winery that does this better). You don't hear much about the 1860 Vines Shiraz these days - it seems as the vines get older, the quantity reduces and the price skyrockets, and I understand the reasons for this. The ESP Reserve (as you rightly point out, 1933 vines) gets more attention as the premium red, with the standard model as the workhorse.

However, it makes me wonder whether the workhorse is becoming a little worn and mundane. The volume of Tahbilk's output is huge, with the 1860s and ESPs being a tiny part of overall production. However, I suspect the reason the standard red has kept its modest pricing is because it fills its place in the Tahbilk hierarchy in a safe way, and to the satisfaction of those drinkers who want the rustic style.

Ageing, though? This is where I suspect the major change is, The standard model surprised me on many occasions with its ability to age and be distinctive and interesting. I doubt that the last few vintages will age like their predecessors and be as interesting after 5-10 years.

However, if someone is prepared to send me a bottle of the 2008 in 2 years time (or the 2006 now) I'd happily provide an opinion. In the meantime, I should crack another 2006 ESP soon. And also see my recent TN on the 2002 Reserve.

Cheers
Allan

Thanks Sean!

Thanks Sean

I have some of the 06 in both Shiraz and Cab flavours. I should start to have a look at them I guess

Great report.

Thanks for sharing.