Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet-Shiraz 2017
93 points / Silver Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards. If you like your Australian red wine to combine power with finesse, then the Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2017 is the perfect wine for you. Produced on the famed terra rossa soils, arguably Australia’s greatest, in the warm Wrattonbully region, it gets its name from the remains of a 37-million-year-old whale that were found here. Made from old, low-yielding vines, the quantity of fruit produced here is tiny, but the quality is exceptional. Once picked the grapes were destemmed – no extra tannins were required – gently crushed and cold soaked for two days before being fermented separately. During the 11-day fermentation, the skins were hand-plunged to ensure maximum extraction. Once blended the wine was placed into 225-litre French oak casks, half of which were new, for 17 months. The result is a dramatic wine, one that’s full of power, concentration, nuance, and intricacy.
Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Sept 2024)
Wine Press Ratings
93 points / Silver Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards (2017)
"Complex and aromatic, showing savoury herbs,, violets and cedar, with bottle-age imbuing the fruit with a candied character. Pure and vibrant.
Blend: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Shiraz
Taste
The Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2017 isn’t showing its age. The colour remains a wonderfully saturated blue-black with only the slightest hint of pink at the rim. The bouquet leaps from the glass, propelling cassis, crushed raspberries, charcoal, sandalwood, mint, green peppers and scorched earth into the air. The palate is just as arresting. This mighty mouthful delivers masses of blackberry, black cherry, and spicy bramble fruit in a rich, well-structured format. The level of extraction is hugely impressive, but it’s not one-dimensional or inelegant. The power is tempered by freshness and precision to create a beguiling whole. Drink now with roasted red meats, full-flavoured cheeses and rich tomato-based dishes or hold for up to fifteen years.
About the Producer
Tapanappa is the latest wine venture by the legendary Petaluma founder, Brian Croser. Founded in 2002 with the support of Champagne Bollinger and the Cazes family of Chateau Lynch Bages fame, Tapanappa produces an extensive range of superb wines in several sites, all of which offer the cool climate conditions that have taken Australian wine to new heights in recent years. Their range includes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Riesling alongside Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Shiraz, which bear Croser’s trademark elegance and precision with Australia’s signature generosity. If you’re looking for Old World refinement with New World exuberance, then Tapanappa’s wines are for you.
93 points / Silver Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards. If you like your Australian red wine to combine power with finesse, then the Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2017 is the perfect wine for you. Produced on the famed terra rossa soils, arguably Australia’s greatest, in the warm Wrattonbully region, it gets its name from the remains of a 37-million-year-old whale that were found here. Made from old, low-yielding vines, the quantity of fruit produced here is tiny, but the quality is exceptional. Once picked the grapes were destemmed – no extra tannins were required – gently crushed and cold soaked for two days before being fermented separately. During the 11-day fermentation, the skins were hand-plunged to ensure maximum extraction. Once blended the wine was placed into 225-litre French oak casks, half of which were new, for 17 months. The result is a dramatic wine, one that’s full of power, concentration, nuance, and intricacy.
Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Sept 2024)
Wine Press Ratings
93 points / Silver Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards (2017)
"Complex and aromatic, showing savoury herbs,, violets and cedar, with bottle-age imbuing the fruit with a candied character. Pure and vibrant.
Blend: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Shiraz
Taste
The Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2017 isn’t showing its age. The colour remains a wonderfully saturated blue-black with only the slightest hint of pink at the rim. The bouquet leaps from the glass, propelling cassis, crushed raspberries, charcoal, sandalwood, mint, green peppers and scorched earth into the air. The palate is just as arresting. This mighty mouthful delivers masses of blackberry, black cherry, and spicy bramble fruit in a rich, well-structured format. The level of extraction is hugely impressive, but it’s not one-dimensional or inelegant. The power is tempered by freshness and precision to create a beguiling whole. Drink now with roasted red meats, full-flavoured cheeses and rich tomato-based dishes or hold for up to fifteen years.
About the Producer
Tapanappa is the latest wine venture by the legendary Petaluma founder, Brian Croser. Founded in 2002 with the support of Champagne Bollinger and the Cazes family of Chateau Lynch Bages fame, Tapanappa produces an extensive range of superb wines in several sites, all of which offer the cool climate conditions that have taken Australian wine to new heights in recent years. Their range includes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Riesling alongside Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Shiraz, which bear Croser’s trademark elegance and precision with Australia’s signature generosity. If you’re looking for Old World refinement with New World exuberance, then Tapanappa’s wines are for you.
Description
93 points / Silver Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards. If you like your Australian red wine to combine power with finesse, then the Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2017 is the perfect wine for you. Produced on the famed terra rossa soils, arguably Australia’s greatest, in the warm Wrattonbully region, it gets its name from the remains of a 37-million-year-old whale that were found here. Made from old, low-yielding vines, the quantity of fruit produced here is tiny, but the quality is exceptional. Once picked the grapes were destemmed – no extra tannins were required – gently crushed and cold soaked for two days before being fermented separately. During the 11-day fermentation, the skins were hand-plunged to ensure maximum extraction. Once blended the wine was placed into 225-litre French oak casks, half of which were new, for 17 months. The result is a dramatic wine, one that’s full of power, concentration, nuance, and intricacy.
Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Sept 2024)
Wine Press Ratings
93 points / Silver Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards (2017)
"Complex and aromatic, showing savoury herbs,, violets and cedar, with bottle-age imbuing the fruit with a candied character. Pure and vibrant.
Blend: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Shiraz
Taste
The Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2017 isn’t showing its age. The colour remains a wonderfully saturated blue-black with only the slightest hint of pink at the rim. The bouquet leaps from the glass, propelling cassis, crushed raspberries, charcoal, sandalwood, mint, green peppers and scorched earth into the air. The palate is just as arresting. This mighty mouthful delivers masses of blackberry, black cherry, and spicy bramble fruit in a rich, well-structured format. The level of extraction is hugely impressive, but it’s not one-dimensional or inelegant. The power is tempered by freshness and precision to create a beguiling whole. Drink now with roasted red meats, full-flavoured cheeses and rich tomato-based dishes or hold for up to fifteen years.
About the Producer
Tapanappa is the latest wine venture by the legendary Petaluma founder, Brian Croser. Founded in 2002 with the support of Champagne Bollinger and the Cazes family of Chateau Lynch Bages fame, Tapanappa produces an extensive range of superb wines in several sites, all of which offer the cool climate conditions that have taken Australian wine to new heights in recent years. Their range includes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Riesling alongside Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Shiraz, which bear Croser’s trademark elegance and precision with Australia’s signature generosity. If you’re looking for Old World refinement with New World exuberance, then Tapanappa’s wines are for you.
