Red Wine

Item Description

Tahbilk Eric Stevens Purbrick Cabernet Sauvignon x 6 Bottles - 98, 01, 06, 08, 12, 16

Kindly donated by Tahbilk Wines

Wines of exceptional quality Tahbilk has a long history of producing fine wines with the help of rich ferric-oxide/sandy loam soils and temperate climate. With over 150 years of winemaking experience you are sure to find some absolute gems in the Tahbilk repertoire. Whether it be ‘1860 Vines’, ‘Eric Stevens Purbrick’ or the (far from) standard Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, there is a history and character with both varietals that goes back generations.

Throughout its career, Tahbilk has obtained over 1000 awards for wines produced on the Estate at all the world's principal exhibitions. These awards include the Diploma of Honour, the highest award obtainable at the Greater London Exhibition of 1899. Also First Order of Merit and Medals in London, Philadelphia, Paris, Bordeaux, Calcutta, Brussels, Amsterdam, Melbourne, Adelaide and Dunedin.

From 1965, when Medal Awards were introduced at Australian Wine Shows, Tahbilk wines have been awarded 81 Trophies, 342 Gold, 746 Silver and 2,429 Bronze Medals to the end of 2017. A Wine Show pedigree reflective of our longevity and quality of releases over time.

TAHBILK WINE CLUB EXCLUSIVE RE-RELEASE

1998 'Reserve' Cabernet Sauvignon

13.5% Alcohol | Cork Closure | Enjoy Now to 2022

Brick red in colour, as you would expect a twenty-plus year-old Estate red to be, bottle-age dried herb and mushroom characters are apparent, but there are still fruit aromas keeping the bouquet rich and interesting.
The palate is exactly what you anticipate after enjoying the bouquet. The same earthy tertiary flavours dominate, alongside complex layers of chocolate, spice and black cherry with the richness of fruit flavours lessening as this classic release realises its full potential.

2001 'Reserve' Cabernet Sauvignon 

14.0% Alcohol | Cork Closure | Enjoy Now to 2024/2026

Deep brick red colour, with a brickish tinge indicative of its age, cedary/cigar box aromas and earthy notes back up with red berry fruits, much like a Bordeaux red.
Red berry fruits explode on the front palate then combine with cedary, fine tannins at the back of the palate.
A wonderful bottle-aged Estate Cabernet Sauvignon that will continue to impress across another five-plus years.

2006 Eric Steven Purbrick Cabernet Sauvignon

TASTING NOTES:
The Cambridge educated Eric Stevens Purbrick first set foot on Tahbilk in 1925 and was winemaker for more than 40 vintages between 1931 and 1978. He passed the winemaker mantle to his grandson, Alister Purbrick, after the 1978 vintage but remained a strong influence in the direction of Tahbilk until his passing in 1991. He was one of the early pioneers of varietal labelling in Australia but perhaps his greatest contribution to Tahbilk was to create the Special Bin Shiraz in 1948 which was to be made, and continues to be made, from the best vats of that
vintage.

In 1952 a ‘Special Bin’ Cabernet Sauvignon was added to the range with both
‘best of vintage’ releases becoming known as ‘Reserve’ in 1985. In recognition of his contribution to the Australian Wine Industry and for his extraordinary influence on Tahbilk , these wines now carry his name and signature…..Eric Stevens Purbrick.

The fruit for this wine was sourced predominately from vines planted on the Estate
in 1949 and has been made utilising traditional Tahbilk techniques with fermentation taking place in open oak vats, then a period of maturation in French oak for 18 months prior to bottling.

The nose and palate exhibit an intense mixture of blackberry and mint, combined
with black olive and clove overtones whilst fine grained, dusty tannins and bottle
age add further complexity.

Geographical: Nagambie Lakes
Fruit Source: Estate Grown
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Maturation: 18 months in French Oak
Acid: 6.6 g/l
pH: 3.43
Alcohol: 14.0 % v/v

2008 'Eric Stevens Purbrick' Cabernet

14.5% Alcohol ~ Screw Cap Closure ~ Drink Now to 2034/2039

"Good colour, although not especially deep; very different to the super-elegant 1860 Vines Shiraz, here the 40-year-old vines have produced a darker, richer palate, with a warm licorice/spice interplay, and a more powerful tannin structure - in the heartland of Tahbilk style."

2012 ‘ERIC STEVENS PURBRICK’ CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Vintage 2012:

A mild autumn rolled into the cool of winter, although the lack of rain bought back memories of the dry winters of the drought years. Spring started cool and dry with warm weather and dewy mornings followed by a wet and humid December driven by tropical weather patterns from the north. January on the other hand was very dry and the vineyard managers were irrigating around the clock to keep the delicate feeder roots in the topsoil moist, which factored then into a very early start to the harvest. A few events of tropical weather tested our patience in February but as it dried out through March and April, and autumn continued to cool, the outlook was positive across all varietals. Fruit flavours in the whites were outstanding with excellent varietal expression, and the reds have deep, vibrant colour and intense primary fruit.

ABOUT THE WINE 

Established in 1860, Tahbilk is located in the premium central Victorian region of Nagambie Lakes. Purchased by Reginald Purbrick in 1925, his son Eric took over management of Tahbilk in 1931. Heading the winemaking for over 40 vintages until handing over to his grandson Alister in 1978, Eric was one of the early pioneers of varietal labelling in Australia and continued to be a strong influence in the direction of the Estate until his passing in 1991. Perhaps his greatest contribution to Tahbilk was to create the ‘Special Bin’ Shiraz in 1948 which was to be made, and continues to be made, from the best vats of a particular vintage. In 1952 a ‘Special Bin’ Cabernet Sauvignon was added to the range with both releases becoming known as ‘Reserve’ in 1985. In recognition of his achievements, these ‘best of a vintage’ wines now carry his name and signature … Eric Stevens Purbrick.

TASTING NOTES

“As would be expected from a best of vintage Cabernet Sauvignon release from the Estate there are generous blackcurrant and eucalypt characters, alongside earthy gamey notes, hints of cedar and mixed herbs balanced with dusty tannins and a fine acidity. The reward of additional complexity will be earned with long term cellaring under the right conditions. An original 1870’s Tahbilk Estate label has been reproduced to showcase this premium release.

Drink Now to 2032/2037”
Alister Purbrick ~ Fourth Generation CEO and Winemaker

2016 ‘Eric Stevens Purbrick’ Cabernet Sauvignon

VINTAGE 2016

Vintage 2016 started dry with only two thirds of the average rainfall for winter recorded, followed by half the usual for September and budburst and then none measurable at all in October. The vineyard managers were watering two weeks
before budburst and through to January when a massive thunderstorm dumped 86 mm of rain in just two hours with some parts of the Old Tahbilk vineyards also hit by hail storm damage. Fortunately cool windy days followed with no
mould or other diseases evident. The harvest itself was 'compressed' with many of
the red blocks going through veraison at the same time as the whites, leading to the same amount of grapes being taken in but in a shorter period of time. Despite the early and quick vintage, the flavours were good with crisp and delicate whites
and most reds picked at optimum ripeness showing juicy and bright fruit. Overall a good to very good vintage in terms of quality and quantity.

ABOUT THE WINE

Established in 1860, Tahbilk is located in the premium central Victorian region of Nagambie Lakes. Purchased by Reginald Purbrick in 1925, his son Eric took over management of Tahbilk in 1931. Heading the winemaking for over 40 vintages until handing over to his grandson Alister in 1978, Eric was one of the early pioneers of varietal labelling in Australia and continued to be a strong influence
in the direction of the Estate until his passing in 1991. Perhaps his greatest contribution to Tahbilk was to create the ‘Special Bin’ Shiraz in 1948 which was to be made, and continues to be made, from the best vats of a particular vintage.
In 1952 a ‘Special Bin’ Cabernet Sauvignon was added to the range with both releases becoming known as ‘Reserve’ in 1985. In recognition of his achievements, these ‘best of a vintage’ wines now carry his name and signature … Eric Stevens Purbrick. 

TASTING NOTE
“When you are working with the best Cabernet Sauvignon from the Estate the expectation is for something special, and special this 2016 ‘Eric Stevens Purbrick’ release is. Aromas of cassis, mulberries, sandalwood and eucalypt alongside subtle cigar and tea-leaf notes guide you to a richly flavoured palate of exotic spice and dark fruit flavours supported by velvety tannins on a deliciously long finish. Further complexity is to be realised with extended cellaring out to 2035 to 2040.”

WINE REGION: Nagambie Lakes
FRUIT SOURCE: Tahbilk Estate
GRAPE VARIETY: Cabernet Sauvignon
MATURATION: 18 months – 50% new French oak, the balance older oak.
ACID: 6.7 g/l
pH: 3.52
ALCOHOL: 14.0% v/v