Established circa 1860, amongst the scenic Nagambie Lakes, Tahbilk is one of Australia's most historic wineries, with a long and proud history of producing Victoria's most reliable Cabernet Sauvignon. Following his return from service after World War II, Eric Purbrick discovered a cache of wine hidden in 1876 under the Tahbilk cellars. Though pale in colour, it was sound and drinkable after 71 years. The promise of long lived red wine inspired Purbrick to establish new plantings in 1949, today they are some of Victoria's oldest productive Cabernet vines.
Tahbilk has some 28 hectares of Cabernet which have consistantly yielded wines of considerable richness and character. Younger vines which are the progeny of this older rootstock form the backbone of fruit. Grapes are crushed in the Tahbilk winery's Pit, the must is pumped into the original open oak vats where cultivated yeasts are introduced. Carbon dioxide, which is formed during fermentation, forces skins, the cap, to rise to the top. Twice daily the juice from the bottom is pumped over the top of the cap which serves to extract colour, flavour and tannins. The final wine is treated to maturation for up to eighteen months in a selection of 100 year old French oak barrels.
Deep red colour. Aromas of warm red currants, plums and black cherries with hints of mint and Mediterranean herbs. Very crisp and full bodied on the palate, minty, capsicum notes with bright and intense berry fruits, a generous amount of juicy fruit underpinned by a supportive web of fine grained, chewy tannins before a long lasting finish. Well worth pouring alongside bacon wrapped quail or your favourite recipe of slow braised rissole.
