Andrew Caillard MW reviews Chateau Tanunda's 2020 Signature Collection

"What I particularly like about the wines are their authenticity and retro-modern style. I feel like I am tasting history. This is something very difficult to achieve." - Andrew Caillard MW

15 September 2020:

2019 150-Year-Old Vines Semillon

 Light straw colour. Fresh lemon curd, white peach aromas with herb garden light marzipan notes. Creamy textured with attractive lemon curd, white peach nectarine flavours, roasted almond notes, some tonic water/ yeasty complexity, fine looseknit textures, superb mid palate viscosity and mineral length. A remarkable Barossa semillon based on vinestock planted around 1850 at Light Pass. The volume, density, richness and freshness are beautifully aligned. Drinking really well but should keep or develop. 12% Alc Drink now – 2028 – 98 points

2016 150-Year-Old Vines 1858 Field Blend

 Medium crimson. Intense red cherry, raspberry pastille, mocha aromas with roasted walnut notes. Well concentrated and vigorous with dense red cherry, raspberry, strawberry fruit flavours, roasted walnut, espresso, notes and persistent fine chalky tannins. Finishes chalky/ hint grippy firm with superb sweet fruit, dark chocolate, aniseed notes. Drink now – 2026 14.9% alc – 97 points 

2017 Chateau Tanunda The Everest Shiraz

 Deep crimson. Classic ultra-fine Barossa Shiraz with intense blackberry mulberry praline aromas with underlying roasted chestnut/ roasted hazel nut, herb garden notes. Plush yet refined in style with deep set blackberry pastille mulberry fruits, underlying paneforte/roasted chestnut notes and plentiful velvety tannins. Finishes chocolaty firm with a zip of aniseed. Superb density, volume and freshness. Drink now – 2032 15.5% alc – 97 points

2017 100 Year Old Vines Shiraz

 Medium deep crimson. Fragrant dark cherry, mulberry, blackberry aromas with vanilla, roasted almond, chinotto notes. Concentrated dark cherry, mulberry, blackberry pastille fruits, vanilla marzipan notes, fine looseknit chocolaty textures and integrated fresh mineral acidity. Finishes chalky firm with plentiful sweet fruit, spicy notes. A classic Barossa old vine Shiraz with superb density, richness of flavour and attack. Drink 2024 – 2032 15.5% - 96 points

2017 50 Year Old Vines Shiraz

 Medium crimson. Classical dark chocolate dark berry aromas with underlying red liquorice/ savoury complexity. Well concentrated and generously proportioned with plentiful blackberry redcurrant red liquorice flavours, fine plentiful looseknit chalky textures and roasted walnut, roasted almond, vanillin, spice notes. Finishes chalky firm with lovely sweet fruit, chinotto, tobacco complexity. Drink now – 2028 15.0% alc – 95 points

2017 50 Year Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon

 Medium crimson. Fresh blackcurrant, red plum aromas with attractive cedar spice notes. Velvety textured, sweet-fruited and round with plentiful dark and red berry paneforte flavours, some underlying roasted hazelnut, leafy notes, mid-palate viscosity, fine plentiful chocolaty tannins and fresh long aniseed notes. Finishes grainy/ vigorous firm with enveloping sweet fruit notes. Drink now – 2025 14.5% alc – 93 points

2018 Terroirs of the Barossa Ebenezer District Shiraz

 Medium deep colour. Fragrant red currant, dark plum mulberry aromas with roasted coffee, herb garden notes. Generous and supple with fresh evolved red currant, dark plum mulberry fruits, roasted chestnut notes, fine looseknit chocolaty textures and integrated acidity. Finishes grainy firm with a plume of fruit sweet notes and a kick of aniseed. Drink now – 2028 15% alc – 96 points

2018 Terroirs of the Barossa Greenock Shiraz

 Medium deep crimson. Intense elderberry, blackberry, praline aromas with espresso notes with lifted Barossa scrub notes. Inky textured animated wine with lovely ripe elderberry, blackberry fruits, mocha/ espresso notes, fine looseknit chalky/ grainy textures, a plummy core of fruit sweetness and a linear zip of pure underlying alcohol. Crunchy freshness at the finish. Beautifully balanced and classic. Drink now – 2026 15% alc – 95 points

2018 Terroirs of the Barossa Marananga Shiraz

 Medium deep crimson. Fresh blackberry dark chocolate brambly aromas with some herb garden notes. Lovely buoyant medium-bodied style with soft blackberries, mulberry berry fruits, fine supple velvety tannins and underlying roasted chestnut notes. Finishes chalky firm, fresh and juicy with a kick of liquorice. Not overly powerful but delicious classic modern Barossa Shiraz. Drink now – 2026 15.5%  - 94+ points

2018 Terroirs of the Barossa Eden Valley Shiraz

 Medium crimson. Pure cherry, raspberry, mulberry aromas with hints of sage and roasted walnuts. Supple and fruit sweet with plentiful red cherry, mulberry fruits, underlying roast walnut, spicy notes, fine looseknit graphite/ al dente textures and persistent aniseed/ chinotto notes. Well balanced wine with attractive density and vigour. Drink now -2026  15% alc – 94 points

2018 The Chateau Single Vineyard Bethanian Shiraz

 Medium crimson. Red currant red cherry brambly aroma with sage cola notes. Buoyant and sweet fruited with red currant, dried plum, dark chocolate, chinotto flavours, fine looseknit chalky textures, attractive creamy richness, roasted nut/ espresso maturation characters and persistent underlying red liquorice notes. Drink now – 2025 14.9% alc  - 92 Points