2008 Tahbilk Eric Stevens Purbrick Shiraz

Tahbilk is one of the five oldest wineries in Australia and, prior to the explosion of wineries through the 1990's and 2000's, a brand that stood as one of the few quality producers across generations in the Australian wine landscape. Fast forward to an industry with thousands of players (there were less than 50 when the vineyard was founded) and it becomes easy to forget our early favourites. The Tahbilk Eric Stevens Purbrick Shiraz exemplifies the practises that made these Shiraz and Cabernets the wines of choice for our Fathers and Grandfathers.

Originally 'Special Bin' and then 'Reserve' in 1985, the cuvee was renamed Eric Stevens Purbrick in 2002 in recognition of the young man who stayed his father's hand when he proposed ripping the vines out for sheep, and went on to work over 45 vintages as winemaker. Made predominately from vines over 75 years old, fermented in open top, 100 year old oak vats - just as Eric did - Langton's have described the wine as a "Dark horse with superb class" and have listed it, rather ironically given the history and continuity of the cuvee, as an "Emerging Wine" . Life did move at a more methodical pace in Eric's day.

Opaque black dark red colour with dark red hue. The nose offers up aromas of liquorice and blackberry overlaid by some toasty vanillin oak with some trailing subtle leather and blackpepper end notes. Full bodied the palate boasts rich ripe blackberry and liquorice flavours that saturate the palate in captivating fashion with underlying toasty vanillin oak, subtle blackpepper, leather and spice nuances. Solidly built but fine grained tannins provide an excellent framework. Superb depth with very long and persistent aftertaste of liquorice, blackberry, subtle toasty vanillin oak, light leather and blackpepper aftertaste.
Cellar 6-8 years (2019-2021).
Alc 14.5%