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2013 Tatiarra Culled Barrel Shiraz

Heathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
$19. 99
Bottle
$239.88 Dozen
Cellar: 5 - 6 Years (2022-2023)
ABV: 15%
Closure: Stelvin

The 2013 vintage was an outstanding one throughout Central and Northern Victoria with the Heathcote region being one of the standouts producing fruit of spectacular quality. At Tatiarra good Winter rains were followed by a period from September right through to harvest in which virtually no rainfall occurred. Summer temperatures were high throughout this period. As a result of these warmer conditions vintage started on the 5th March, roughly 1 week ahead of schedule.

Dropping of fruit began earlier than usual and the controlling of canopy cover resulted in excellent flavour development. The diligent use of the limited water resources at critical times by vineyard manager Bob Wilson during this dry period meant the vineyard flourished. There’s no doubting that in years to come the 2013 wines will be considered to be up there with the best Tatiarra has produced if not the very best. Such has been the enthusiasm for these wines from the moment the fruit was picked that the anticipation of their release has been building by the month. Upon completion of tasting and compiling the final blends winemaker Ben Riggs commented…. “Wow and ouch. Wow because 2013 blends are crazy good and ouch cause geeze that’s a hard tasting, so concentrated and awesome.” But these are not just super concentrated fruit bombs, they also possesses an underlying structure that will see all of the wines have very long cellaring potentials. 

Such was the quality of the 2013 vintage across all vineyards at Tatiarra, it was initially anticipated by the directors that very little or no Culled Barrel would be produced, however, winemaker Ben Riggs was ruthless, taking a John West approach to culling barrels that made no contribution to the flavour profile of Tatiarra’s top wines. This ensured that the company’s flagship wines would over deliver in an extraordinary way.

Delivering amazing richness and concentration for its price, this is an absolute steal – Grab some while you still can!

Re-tasted 1/11/17
Incredible colour saturation with an inky black core that’s totally impenetrable and a deep dark red black hue. A few swirls of the glass has lofty aromatics of liquorice, black cherries and ripe blackberries filling the olfactory senses followed by spicy vanillin oak, notions of crushed rock and blackpepper. A massive core of rich fruit engulfs the palate within a muscular yet opulent textural feel. Hedonistic flavours of liquorice, ripe black cherries and blackberries flooding the mouth over a back drop of toasty vanillin oak, subtle crushed rock infusions, dried meats and a burst of blackpepper. A rock solid tannin structure carries the wealth of fruit with ease. Very long and powerful conclusion of liquorice, black cherries, blackberries, vanillin oak, smoky dried meats and blackpepper.
Cellar 5-6 years.
Alc. 15%

Originally Tasted 25 Feb 2015
Magnificent totally impenetrable inky black core with a very deep dark purple black hue. Youthful but intense aromatics of ripe blackberries and dark plum are followed by some liquorice, black cherries, vanillin oak and spice. Full bodied the palate possesses fantastic power and richness with black fruit flavours of ripe blackberries, black cherries and liquorice saturating the mouth framed by firm muscular tannins. Black plum and spicy vanillin oak follow with a touch of blackpepper also present. Long aftertaste of ripe blackberries, black cherries, liquorice, spicy vanillin oak and blackpepper. Having recently tasted a 2004 Culled Barrel we can confidently say this wine will have a cellaring potential of 10 years plus. Seriously under valued.
Drink over the next 5-10 years.
Alc 15%