For those of you who know your wine, you will know that Tahbilk has some of the best vines in Australia. Their range toppers go back to 1860 and their Marsanne vines are probably some of the finest in Oz.
If you give the old Liqourland a cursory glance over the wine shelves every now and then, you will know their standard stuff well. Their Marsanne, Shiraz and Cav Sauv. What you should know is that this is literally the tip of the iceberg. Tahbilk are a family concern and seem far more concerned with the cellar door than selling out to the retail chains. They must have around 30 wines for tasting at the door.
Highlights
Of what was on offer, we must’ve tasted about 15. Their 1990 Shiraz/Malbec is sublime and quite reasonably priced (around $30). Malbec by itself is a bit so so, being a very light red (7% alcohol and lacking tannin) but combine the two and you’re so in business!
New to their range is their Sparkling Mousanne. It’s a bit yeasty, being their first vintage, but this is sure to become a classic. Quite simply there’s nothing to compare it to. It’s very different, but if you like your dry whites, it’s worth the drive alone.
New Sparklings
Also the new Tahbilk Sparkling Shiraz is remarkable. For sparkling lovers, this is not quite so intense with the fairy floss flavours of a freshly cracked bottle. It has all the pluminess of the non sparkling but is perfectly blended. Leagues apart from other Aussie sparkings which polarise wine lovers at the best of times.
Huge Variety
Some you will never see on the shelf are their [reds] Sangiovese, 1860 Old Vines Shiraz, Cabernet Rose [whites] Roussane, Verdelho, Viognier, Sauv Blanc and a few fortifieds. Arguable the biggest non-corporate, estate grown range of wines offered from a single winery in Australia. And to boot Heathcote, full of great cool climate Shiraz is just down the road.
The Restaurant
The cafe/restaurant just a short walk from the cellar door is absolutely picturesque. If you have some rellos coming from overseas and want to show them something Oz yet beautiful, drive straight from the airport here. Both times i’ve been there, the food on offer was baguettes, gourmet pastries etc. but not to their discredit. They were of the best quality the region has to offer. Living proof that there’s pies and there P I E S.
The Chateau buildings around the place are worth a look too for history boffins. It’s also by the Nagambie lakes, very pretty and there’s the unique (but crappy wine) Michelton winery down the road. It’s roughly a 90 minute drive from Melbourne central.
Walking around Tabhilk, you don’t see any of the hyper industry that you do around Penfolds, Zilzie, Lindermans and Jacobs Creek. No 20 story silos or ominous looking shit that belongs mor on an oil refinery than a winery. It may not be organic but it’s smaller scale and honest and that’s what counts
So quit buying your wine from a rip off, surface scratching supermarket chains and get to the source. Go to the winery, and make a day of it. Buy yourself a case of good estate grown Victorian wine and get into it! It’s cheaper and it’s a lot more fun when you see where it comes from.
http://www.tahbilk.com.au/