Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon / Shiraz

Wine information: Tapanappa is a dream of one of the World’s most highly talented viticulturalists and winemakers, Brian Croser and produces a small quantity of fine wine each year. Brian’s mission was to maximise the quality of Australian wine in three specific vineyard sites: The Whalebone Vineyard in Wrattonbully produces perfectly structured complex reds of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. In late 2002 Tapanappa assumed control of the 27 year-old Koppamurra Vineyard in Wrattonbully just north of Coonawarra. The vineyard was renamed as the Whalebone Vineyard. The foliage of the old vines was retrained into a vertical canopy and the crop level was reduced to a meagre 3 tonnes/hectare. The deep-rooted old vines of the Whalebone Vineyard rely on the natural rainfall and the moisture reserves in the marly clay of the Terra Rossa soil and the deep porous limestone upon which it is formed. Hand picked grapes from the Whalebone Vineyard were de-stemmed and partially crushed (60% whole berries) and chilled to 1 tonne fermenters. After a cold soak of 3 days, a native yeast of the vineyards was added and the fermenters were hand plunged twice daily throughout the two week fermentation. The fermenters were sealed for a further week of skin contact with the finished wine and then pressed directly to new French oak barriques to undergo malo-lactic fermentation on full lees. After malolactic, the wines were racked every 6 months of their 18 month stay in barriques. The final clear racking allowed the components to be blended and the wine was given a light egg white fining before being bottled without filtration in December 2005. Tappanappa means "stick to the path".

Tasting Notes: First and foremost the 2004 Tapanappa Cabernet Shiraz is the taste of the Whalebone Vineyard. The terroir delivers complexity involving the aroma and taste of dusty earth and Eucalypt smoke. A glass of Tapanappa Cabernet Shiraz is translucent and a vibrant cerise colour. The aroma is built in layers with a core of Cabernet Sauvignon mulberry and clove surrounded by the blackberry and liquorice of Shiraz. A central sweet fruit flavour follows on with dry dusty tannins turning creamy as the persistence of the fruit, earth and smoke creates length. 2004 Tapanappa Cabernet Shiraz is from a cool dry sunny year and is much longer than it is wide.

Food & drink match: Spring lamb lightly roasted with thyme and rosemary is the natural dish to amplify the flavours and structure of the wine.

Reviews: "Deep red. Musky cherry and plum scents are joined by underbrush, tobacco and pungent herbs. Fleshy dark fruit flavors are braced by gentle acidity and show bitter chocolate and licorice on the back. Finishes with a suave jolt of cassis and excellent length. This is the property of Brian Croser, long-time owner of Petaluma." 91 Points, Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar.

 
     

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