Wine Reviews: Sam Kim (Wine Orbit) January 2020
Tuesday, 4 February 2020Wine Orbit
Wine Review by Sam Kim
www.wineorbit.co.nz
JANUARY 2020
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Winery Name |
Wine Name |
Region |
Points |
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Chateau Tanunda |
Grand Barossa Shiraz 2008 |
Barossa |
93 |
|
Beautifully maturing; the fabulously expressed bouquet shows sweet fruit notes together with vanillin oak, roasted hazelnut and smoked game. It’s opulent and velvety on the palate with lovely rounded mouthfeel, finishing long and delectable. At its best: now to 2022. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
Grand Barossa Shiraz 2012 |
Barossa |
93 |
|
Wonderfully composed and sweetly expressed, the bouquet shows blackberry, mulberry, toasted spice and cedar characters, leading to a beautifully weighted palate that offers silky mouthfeel and polished tannins. Warm and comforting. At its best: now to 2026. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
Grand Barossa Shiraz 2016 |
Barossa |
94 |
|
This is splendidly ripe and inviting on the nose showing blackberry, cherry, cocoa and subtle spice notes, followed by a succulent palate that’s plump and delectable. It’s upfront and flavoursome with beautifully pitched chalky tannins, finishing long and pleasingly dry. At its best: now to 2032. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
Grand Barossa Shiraz 2018 |
Barossa |
94 |
|
Youthfully charming and immediately appealing, the wine shows blackberry, Black Doris plum, violet, dark chocolate and toasted almond characters on the nose, leading to a gorgeously weighted palate that’s succulent and lingering. The wine offers terrific fruit purity and roundness, making it highly enjoyable. At its best: now to 2034. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
Grand Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 |
Barossa |
92 |
|
Showing lovely bottle-matured complexity, it’s delightfully inviting on the nose with dark berry, leather, dried herb and cedar characters. The palate delivers juicy fruit intensity backed by rounded mouthfeel and silky tannins with a lengthy savoury finish, making this an excellent food partner. At its best: now to 2022. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
Grand Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 |
Barossa |
93 |
|
Wonderfully styled and varietally expressive, the wine shows blackcurrant, cigar, warm spice and toasted nut aromas on the nose, followed by a flavoursome palate that’s succulent and persistent. It’s classically structured by fine grainy tannins, making it beautifully structured and lingering. At its best: now to 2026. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
Grand Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 |
Barossa |
93 |
|
This is gorgeously ripe and sweetly fragrant on the nose showing cassis, dark chocolate, tobacco and cedary oak notes, leading to a beautifully supple palate that’s ripe and lingering. It’s mouthfilling and delicious with a lengthy silky finish. At its best: 2029. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
Grand Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 |
Barossa |
94 |
|
Offering excellent fruit purity and intensity, the beautifully lifted bouquet shows blackcurrant, Black Doris plum, violet and spicy oak characters. It’s equally satisfying on the palate with excellent weight and textural mouthfeel backed by chalky tannins, finishing engaging and immensely appealing. At its best: 2032. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
Merlot 2018 |
Eden Valley |
93 |
|
Lovely juicy fruit notes of dark plum and blueberry lead the way with hints of floral, almond and spice, to a succulent palate that’s plump and fleshy. It’s upfront and flavoursome with youthful charm backed by chalky tannins, finishing wonderfully long and immensely appealing. At its best: now to 2028. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
Malbec 2018 |
Eden Valley |
93 |
|
Pristine and varietally expressive, the wine shows blackcurrant, dark cherry, cured meat and mixed spice aromas on the nose, followed by a wonderfully flavoursome palate that’s succulent and weighty with lovely density and persistency. It’s firm and brooding with layers of gorgeous flavours. At its best: now to 2026. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
Cabernet Franc 2018 |
Eden Valley |
93 |
|
The wine shows excellent fruit purity, showing lifted aromas of dark plum, cherry, floral, almond and thyme on the nose, followed by an elegantly weighted palate that’s juicy and beautifully flowing. Fabulously composed and perfumed with polished mouthfeel, finishing silky and lingering. At its best: now to 2025. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 |
Eden Valley |
94 |
|
The flavours are distinct and delectable with cassis, dark plum, cocoa and roasted hazelnuts with a touch of spice. It’s supple, beautifully ripe and rounded with excellent fruit power and presence, finishing sturdy and gorgeously long. At its best: now to 2028. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
The Chateau Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 |
Eden Valley |
95 |
|
True to variety, this is powerful and sophisticated at the same time, showing crème de cassis and cedary oak characters on the nose with nuances of tobacco, olive and floral. The palate displays excellent concentration and intensity, wonderfully complemented by fleshy texture and fine, grainy tannins. A splendid rendition. At its best: now to 2030. AU$38.00. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
The Chateau Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 |
Eden Valley |
95 |
|
Full, weighty and richly expressed, the wine shows complex aromas of blackcurrant, plum, dried herb, roasted nut and subtle floral notes on the nose, followed by a gracefully powerful palate that’s dense and lingering. Magnificently balanced and flavoursome with a terrific long, refined finish. At its best: now to 2032. AU$38.00. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
Old Cooperage Cabernet Franc 2014 |
Eden Valley |
94 |
|
Seductive notes of dried fruit, cake spice, leather and hazelnut with a lovely herbal infusion lead to a sweetly fruited palate that’s generously flavoured and richly textured. It’s plush and flavoursome with savoury undertones, finishing long and highly enjoyable. At its best: now to 2026. AU$40.00. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
Single Vineyard 15 Year Old Vines Shiraz 2018 |
Barossa Valley |
95 |
|
Pristine and pure, yet powerful and complex, the wine shows Black Doris plum, blueberry compote, vanilla, cedar and floral notes on the nose. It’s equally impressively on the palate with plump mouthfeel and velvety texture, finishing long and delicious. A fabulous shiraz highlighting fruit purity with elegant oak influence. At its best: now to 2033. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
Single Vineyard 50 Year Old Vines Shiraz 2018 |
Barossa Valley |
96 |
|
Powerful yet refined tannins provide an excellent frame to this stunning shiraz; the perfumed bouquet shows dark and purple fruit characters with subtle notes of game, olive, cedar and floral. It’s concentrated and wonderfully textured with layers of gorgeous flavours, finishing impressively long, seamless and engaging. At its best: 2024 to 2038. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
Single Vineyard 150 Year Old Vines Shiraz 2018 |
Barossa Valley |
97 |
|
Exhibiting remarkable fruit purity and perfume, the bouquet shows blackberry, blueberry and violet characters with hints of vanilla, black tea and anise. It’s graciously textured on the palate with exceptional depth and persistency, offering layers of engaging flavours and loads of refined tannins. At its best: 2024 to 2038. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
50 Year Old Vines Shiraz 2015 |
Barossa Valley |
95 |
|
Complex notes of dark fruit, cake spice and cedar together with velvety texture and opulent mouthfeel offer immediate appeal. It’s richly fruited and immensely generous backed by grainy tannins, finishing long, sumptuous and moreish. At its best: now to 2030. AU$75.00. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
100 Year Old Vines Shiraz 2015 |
Barossa Valley |
96 |
|
This compelling shiraz shows blackcurrant, mixed berry compote, cocoa, anise and cedary oak characters on the nose, followed by a superbly weighted palate that’s brimming with rich fruit intensity and gorgeous complexity. Seductive oak is in balance with silky tannins, making it hugely appealing. At its best: now to 2035. AU$150.00. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
150 Year Old Vines 1858 Field Blend 2016 |
Barossa Valley |
98 |
|
Immensely complex and majestic, the wine shows dark fruit intensity with seductive nuances of charcuterie, dried herb, dark chocolate, clove and cedar on the nose. It’s substantial and opulent on the palate, exhibiting exceptional depth and multi-layered mouthfeel, while remaining refined and harmonious. Symphonic, engaging and thought-provoking. At its best: 2026 to 2046. AU$500.00. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
The Everest Old Vine Grenache 2016 |
Barossa Valley |
97 |
|
A stunning expression of the variety; the perfumed bouquet shows raspberry, dark cherry, olive, thyme and floral aromas, leading to a concentrated palate that’s expansive and mouthfilling with a seamless flow. Varietally pure with sensual complexity, making it irresistible and gratifying. At its best: 2022 to 2040. AU$295.00. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Chateau Tanunda |
The Everest Shiraz 2016 |
Barossa Valley |
98 |
|
Full-throttled and lavish, yet it’s graceful and sophisticated; showing blackberry, mixed berry compote, toasted spice and vanillin oak characters on the nose with nuances of tar, game and walnut. It’s dense and sumptuous on the palate with spectacular vigour and presence, wonderfully complemented by silky mouthfeel and perfectly pitched tannins. At its best: 2026 to 2046. AU$295.00. www.chateautanunda.com. Nov 2019. |
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Ratings
|
5 Stars |
100 pts |
|
|
5 |
96 - 100 |
Exceptional quality exhibiting highest level of concentration and complexity. |
|
5 |
93 – 95 |
Outstanding quality showing varietal purity and exemplifying regional type. |
|
4.5 |
89 - 92 |
Excellent quality showing high level of concentration and balance. |
|
4 |
85 - 88 |
Very good quality displaying attractive flavours and good balance. |
|
3.5 |
81 - 84 |
Good quality, easy drinking with straightforward flavours. |
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Not all wines tasted by Wine Orbit are published including those rated below 3 stars. |
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