The 2005 Cabernet – Shiraz “Whalebone Vineyard” comes from a 30-year-old, 20 acre site located in Wrattonbully, just north of Coonawarra. The wine was aged in new French oak for 20 months and bottled without filtration. Dark ruby-colored, it delivers a fragrant perfume of pain grille, clove, mint, cassis, and blackberry. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is supple-textured, intensely flavored, and altogether elegant. There is enough structure to permit another 3-4 years of evolution in the cellar and it will drink well through 2025.
Tapanappa is a joint venture of the Cazes family of Bordeaux, the Bollinger family of Champagne, and winemaker Brian Croser of Australia.
Importer: Palm Bay Imports, Boca Raton, Fl; www.tapanappawines.com.au