Tahbilk:
Arrived on Monday night and were taken for a boat trip around the wetlands on the Tahbilk which they are most proud of restoring (rightly so), headed back to the wetlands café and had an amazing dinner.
Today took a look around the winery – simply fantastic, full of history & style – the essence of the place was more than just in the building – parts of the vines themselves were planted in 1860 and still carefully tended today, making the most fantastic wines.
Tried loads of fantastic wines – to many to write about at the moment, but the highlights were:
Marsanne; 2008 & 1999 – the 2008 was incredibly fresh with a rich complexity and tropical fruits, lemon sherbet and clean spritz – ideal for Estbek; would work with Hot smoked salmon & samphire salad! – The 1999 was more intense with a honeyed character – will come back to this one later!
2001 Vintage Marsanne from the 1927 vines – a buttery complexity with a fruit acidity well defined and some mild tannic structures, deep, structures and very complex.
Shiraz: 1860’s vines & we tried wines made from this fruit back to 1971 – simply out of this world, there is such an intensity of style and as you let the wine open its as if your peeling layer after layer off the wine to see what’s inside!
Then had a great lunch (accompanied by a great Marsanne vintage 2010) – of great pasta & a sort of omelette (pumpkin / egg / frittata).
De-Bortoli:
Arrived at 4.30pm – tour around this amazing winery; Steve Webbers approach is well documented so I wont ramble on about that … but I will say his wines are simply stunning – I hope the pinots are in the UK – will be checking that out when I get back!
Right off to get some sleep.
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