The Auswine Forum

1994 TOLLANA Botrytis Riesling (375 mL)

I found this 10 years old wine sitting quietly in the back of a neglected liquor store fridge. I bought it for AU $13.95 not knowing that I would be in for a treat. Grapes for this wine came from Coonawarra and the Eden Valley. The botrytis effected grapes were picked with strict quality control. Only 2,700 cases were made, and I wonder whether it could still be found anywhere. If you do, buy it!

Colour deep golden with bronze hues. Marmalade, citrus fruit and figs on the nose with dried apricots. Super smooth full bodied palate with creamy complexities. The decadently rich and sweet fruit is balanced by biting acidity. Superb weight and texture. Very long finish where the sweet luxurious fruit is perfectly balanced by mouthwatering acidity.
Open and delicious, absolutely top drinking now but the balance and length suggest another 8 years of life. ItÂ’s the best Tollana botrytis I ever tasted. This wine is high class. It definitely tastes like a more expensive wine. Alcohol is only 11% vol. German Beerenauslese style but still with an Aussie character for sure. I totally enjoyed it!



Tasted: November 2004

Cheers,
Attila

Damndamndamndamndamn. About a year ago I found a bottle of this, and when I went to open it I dropped it on a very hard floor.

Kieran

Always a good drop - I still have half bottles of the 86, 87 and 90! Yes, they age very well too. Pity no longer made??????

This wine is high class. It definitely tastes like a more expensive wine. Alcohol is only 11% vol. German Beerenauslese style but still with an Aussie character for sure. I totally enjoyed it!


Tollana made terrif stickies Atilla and criminally cheap.

everybody love's finding a bargain in the clearance [dump!] bin.

it reminds me of when i found a 1988 Sevenhills Dry Tokay
in 1988. it was a revelation for $10. i took a punt on the basis the label on the back said it would mature well. half expecting vinegar, i instead found
remarkable honeyed characters on the nose, lovely rich mouthfeel, finishing clean and dry with a long aftertaste of nectarine. i went WOW!

i then wrote a complimentary letter to winemaker, 'Big Brother' May. He told me they hoiked 'those grapes' out in the early 90's [a variety of muscat apparently]. so alas my honeymoon was over before it barely started.
still, it made me realize sometimes you get a LOT more than you pay for!
...and i bet the '94 Tollana Botrytis didnt damage your wallet!