Goulburn Valley Wines

Wine families always tend to make wines that honour previous family members. So it is with the Purbrick family of Tahbilk. Current winemaker Alister honours his father who started making this wine back in 1948. Only using the best fruit possible, this wine is the benchmark style for Tahbilk that can cellar for two decades without being disturbed. This would do a mature cheese platter jusice with its dark, brooding fruit and aromas of fruitcake. Rich and concentrated, it has a noble structure with a firm tannin background.

According to Tahbilk the best wines are made in the vineyard as much as they are in the winery. Who are we to argue with that sentiment, considering this Shiraz has been made since 1948, utilizing only the best fruit available. The wine comes to you with six years of bottle age, but could happy dwell in your cellar for another five years before it’s harmonious enough to drink. This is decadent drinking to be shared with someone special and gives off aromas of blackberry and licorice. It’s full-bodied and well structured showing immense length.

There’s something reassuring about opening a Tahbilk wine. Maybe it’s the history that lends a sense of occasion? As one of the few Australian wineries to have operated for over 150 years you could say they’ve had a fair bit of practice. This Cabernet is all about stately structure and will happily wait in the cellar for the next decade until you are ready to drink it. Blackberry aromas and hints of leather as well as notes of anise lead to a plate of dark berry fruit with firm tannins and hints of earth and mint.

Tahbilk have a legendary reputation, purveyors of a distinguished brand they represent one of the oldest winemaking families in the country. This Shiraz is one of the true bargains in Australian wine and continues to offer flavour beyond its price tag and an ability to age brilliantly. It’s full of ripe berries, pepper, licorice and chocolate and delivers all this and much more on the palate thanks to a spicy persistence and judicious oak.

The Tar and Roses label is quite a unique partnership between two passionate winemakers who had a vision to bring the best of Heathcote and other remote Victorian outposts. With over 30 years experience Don Lewis is the driving force behind this boutique label who makes wine alongside Narelle King, a partnership that has produced the kind of wines that are both imbued with masculinity and femininity. This is so typical of the region showing red berry and anise aromas with a palate that’s broad and savoury with hints of chocolate. Lovely balance and full of fine tannins on the finish.

The Mitchelton Blackwood Park is one of Victoria’s top Riesling’s and for three decades has been winning fans. We are already devout believers in the style and we believe you will be too. The aromas are very lifted with florals and vibrant flavours of stone fruits as well as apricots, ginger and spice. It’s zesty and refreshing, heady with mouthfilling flavour of pure fruit before a well-balanced finish. A wine of real pedigree, it would enjoy being paired with some yum cha.

We often talk of Chardonnay making a comeback but for many of us it never went away. This is a hybrid combining the best of cool Victorian regions to create a wine that’s scintillating with expressive aromas and flavours. It’s loaded with melon and nectarine a touch of subtle vanillin oak and creamy textures. A layered wine that drinks well on its on but is even better with dishes like Chicken in a creamy tarragon sauce.

So what’s the point of a wine that’s light in alcohol? Well, if you are driving, it’s a very good idea because it means that you can monitor your intake, still enjoy yourself and know you won’t be over the limit. It’s lower in calories too so everyone’s a winner. It smells of cut grass and citrus, with a good tropical intensity. It’s nicely textural on the palate with vital notes of citrus, passionfruit and guava before crunchy acids fill out the finish. A wine to enjoy with steamed fish and Asian greens.

Of all the red varieties Merlot is the one that seems to offer the most palate friendly experience and this delicious drop from Central Victoria is such a good wine to take to a barbecue as it will compliment a wide array of red and white meats. It’s lifted with blackcurrant, blueberry as well as hints of rhubarb. Its soft and medium bodied with plum as well as cedar. A touch of spice and vanilla on the long finish as well as snug tannins making for the ultimate comfort wine.

Every wine we taste from the Preece range seems to have been blessed by the spirit of Colin Preece, one of the pioneers of the Victorian wine industry. Here’s a cool climate Shiraz that just kept on opening up in the glass suggesting it should have been matched to a plate of charcuterie. It’s lifted with cherries and peppery spice before revealing a tapestry of red berry fruit and a captivating structure. Drinking well now, however it will cellar well in the medium term.

Tahbilk have managed to survive for over 150 years making wine and must surely rate as one of Australia’s most recognisable brands. Their Chardonnay is for those with patience, held back a year where it chills out on lavish oak and then gets bottled for your delight. It’s a vital mix of melon and peach with a background of citrus and grapefruit all underpinned by the spicy vanillin character that the oak imparts. It’s a dead set winner with a warm chicken salad.

Did someone say sticky? What a perfect way to end a meal, actually it’s a damn god way to start a meal too. This one from Victorian trailblazers Mitcheton already comes with the benediction of James Halliday and a whopping 94 points. Believe us, that means it’s a late harvest style with real finesse. Intense, candied peel and citrus aromas, with tantalising honey and syrup and notes of spice. The palate is mouth-filling with unctuous marmalade flavours.

The Victorian trailblazers Mitchelton turn their hand at a blend you don’t normally associate with Central Vic and pull it off superbly. The wine is sculpted to perfection with each component playing a part and harmonising to present a soft easy drinking blend. You’ll find mocha and raspberry, red cherries and leather before a seamless palate where texture is the key. It’s got sprightly acidity and a lovely lingering finish and while drinking well now, will only improve with a few more years in the bottle.

The Preece name has become synonymous with quality Victorian winemaking and we love this Cabernet that is so typical of the grape. It’s loaded with chocolate, vanilla and spice with a silky texture before delivering dark berry flavours that are powerful and long. It has a lovely, generous tannin finish that would go perfectly with roast lamb. It will last well in the short term however when the weather’s cooler and this is on the wine rack we can’t imagine a better wine to reach for.

Such a consistent wine this - especially now that it comes sealed with a screwcap. Citrus fruit, crisp natural acidity and a lightly honeyed texture. Will age too. Iconic (if sometimes forgotten) white wine.

For a region not known for Riesling, the Tahbilk from Nagambie Lakes cleared up at the Cowra Wine Show and took out the honour of best Riesling of show. A joy to drink from start to finish it’s got lifted aromas of lime and floral characters that make it captivating in the glass. A wine that’s fresh and tantalising on the tastebuds; it has a wonderful core of citrus fruit and smart acids driving through the long, refreshing finish. If you want a taste epiphany simply cook some white fish in butter and a touch of chilli and serve with this racy Riesling.

It’s very possible that Viognier would be more popular if more people could pronounce it. Here’s a handy tip, it’s Vee-on-yey – there that’s not so hard is it? What is so special about the Tahbilk version is that it emulates the best of the Rhone and announces itself with citrus and heightened floral aromas. It has a slippery and exotic texture enlivened by flavours of apricot and peach. Fresh, soft acids fill out the finish, making it a suitable food wine especially with poultry.

Savvy by name and savvy by nature, this grape’s popularity never seems to diminish, so here’s a zesty take on the style from the good folk at Preece. The Preece range of wines shows off the best vineyards in Victoria and this cool Savvy is blended with fruit from The Yarra Valley, the King Valley and the Strathbogie Ranges. A really varietal Savvy captivates the senses with its lively tropical fruit aromas and subtle hints of passionfruit and mango. The palate is a full on Savalaunch of tropical fruits with a touch of mango before a mineral edge kicks in and leads to a long, lingering finish.

It's a firm beast is this Mitchelton, rich and full flavoured with no shortage of fruit intensity. That's part of the charm though with Central Victorian reds - they are rarely short on fruit weight, if in a somewhat rustic style. Drink with something red meaty.

Moscato has become a bit of a crowd favourite in recent years. It’s quite the style for the Australian climate and because it’s so obviously low in alcohol it’s the perfect candidate for brunch. Lively aromas here, with floral elements and vivid hints of elderflower. It’s exotically fruited on the palate with a slight spritz and a creaminess before balanced citrus acids, draw it to a conclusion. A modestly weighted wine that would go superbly with a fruit platter.