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The Tatiarra wines have generated a remarkable degree of excitement in a very short period of time as the following reviews by local and international wine writers attest. Nevertheless, Tatiarra's initial success also presents a counter-challenge: Tatiarra must maintain or better the exceptional standards so far achieved if it is to be recognised as one of the worlds great Shiraz marques. |
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James Halliday's 2005 Wine Companion [left] (James Halliday is a highly regarded Australian wine writer.) BEST WINERIES OF THE REGIONS page 149 HEATHCOTE Domaines Tatiarra Jasper Hill Redesdale Estate Wines DOMAINES TATIARRA SUMMARY Domaines Tatiarra Limited is an unlisted public company, its cores asset being a 60 hectare property of cambrian earth first identified and developed by Bill Hepburn, who sold the project to the company in 1991. It is intended to produce only one varietal wine : Shiraz. The majority of the wine will come from the Tatiarra (Aboriginal word meaning beautiful country) property, but the Trademark Shiraz is an equal blend of McLaren Vale and Heathcote wine. The wines are made at the modern Pettavel Winery in Geelong, Ben Riggs commuting backwards and forwards between McLaren Vale and the winery as required. It is hard to imagine a more auspicious start to a new venture than that provided by the 2002 wines. ***** CAMBRIAN SHIRAZ 2002 Deep, almost opaque colour; smooth, ripe, concentrated blackberry and plum fruit, complexed but touches of pepper and spice; excellent management of tannins and oak. RATING 94 DRINK 2017 $40 **** CARAVAN OF DREAMS SHIRAZ PRESSINGS 2002 Even greater richness and complexity than the other two wines, oozing luscious blackberry and plum jam, with touches of spice. Velvety finish. RATING 93 DRINK 2022 $50 **** TRADEMARK SHIRAZ 2002 Deeply coloured, lusciously rich, ripe and powerful; a mix of dark chocolate, earth and blackberry; abundant tannins. RATING 90 DRINK 2020 $60 ............................................................................................................................... 2002 Tatiarra Cambrian Shiraz "The ancient Cambrian soil of Victoria's Heathcote region has
made it one of the most valued bits of Australian vineyard ground in
a few short years. Even some South Australian Shiraz makers - on condition
of anonymity, of course - wreckon it's one of the country's best places
for Shiraz. This new addition to the Heathcote club, made by ex-Wirra
Wirra man Ben Riggs, is a powerful, ripe and alcoholic (15.5 per cent)
style with a sweet berry nose of jammy concentration. The palate has
tons of concentrated fruit, full body and well integrated, firm tannins.
It's an uncompromising big red made in the hefty regional style."
2002 Tatiarra Cambrian Shiraz "HEATHCOTE IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST EXCITING NEW REGIONS
FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SHIRAZ. TATIARRA WITH THEIR FIRST RELEASE ARE
SET TO BECOME ONE OF HEATHCOTE’S TOP PRODUCERS SETTING EXACTING
STANDARDS WITH POTENTIAL INVESTMENT UPSIDE.
2002 Tatiarra Cambrian Shiraz "Yup, the same one that outscored all those classic wines like
the 1998 Grange at last year's Great Shiraz Shootout. The Tatiarra Vineyard
is in the Heathcote District, an area of Australia that is about to
explode on the world scene in terms of Shiraz. The Cambrian Earth has
become the most prized of soil profiles in that area, existing in a
long parallel ban starting south of Heathcote and extending all the
way to the north of Colbinabbin. These 500 million year old volcanic
soils make for some amazing Shiraz. The Tatiarra Vineyard is managed
by Ian Rathjen, the same fellow who runs the Aussie cult fave Whistling
Eagle Vineyard, and the wines are made by the legendary Ben Riggs. Only
143 cases of this wine exist and the nose is packed with licorice, plum,
blackberry and black pepper. The palate is huge and concentrated with
all those same flavors plus a bit of cedar and vanilla. This is an insanely
powerful wine that could easily cellar for 15-20 years. I want to say
this right now: the Tatiarra wines have the potential, given the creative
forces behind them, to be the next Penfolds Grange of Australia. Nick's
Wine Merchants in Victoria use a rigorous scoring method for wines that
is on a 100 point scale similar to the Wine Advocate. They scored this
wine 98. These wines have yet to be reviewed by Parker, etc. so you
have a grand opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a cult wine
in the making. Before it gets to be over a hundred bucks a bottle."
- Michael A. |
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2002 Tatiarra Caravan of Dreams Shiraz Pressings |
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Entire contents © Copyright 2004 Domaines Tatiarra / Tatiarra Vineyard, Gibb Road, Toolleen, (Heathcote), Victoria, 3559. ABN 98 090 457 819 Liquor License No. 36077241 WARNING: Under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 it is an offence: To supply alcohol to a person under the age of 18 years (Penalty $2,000) For a person under the age of 18 years to purchase or receive liquor (Penalty $500) |
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