Yesterday, Château Tanunda officially launched its 2024 collection at an exclusive Sydney dinner event attended by Drinks Trade. The 2024 collection features 12 distinct wines, subdivided into its Single Vineyard, Terroirs of the Barossa, Old Vine Expressions, and Everest ranges.
Château Tanunda’s Managing Director Michelle Geber said, ‘’I’m incredibly proud to present this year’s Collection release. These wines are a testament to the lifelong dedication of my family, particularly my father, who has poured his heart into rebuilding the Château and shaping it into the Australian wine icon it is today.”
Making its debut to the Château Tanunda collection is its 150 Year Old Vines Grenache, made using grapes from 150 year old vines.
“The wines featured in this year’s Collection are truly exceptional and I am thrilled to introduce for the first time our 150 Years Old Grenache, a wine of remarkable distinction that perfectly embodies our heritage and commitment to excellence,’’ said Michelle Geber.
The Grenache spent 18 months in mostly-used French oak (20% new) prior to time spent ageing in bottle prior to release. According to Chief Winemaker Neville Rowe, the grapes used heralded from “one of the most unique single vineyard sites in the world.
“Fruit for our 150 Year Old Vines Grenache comes from the Stonegarden Vineyard in the Eden Valley,” he continued.
“These vineyards were planted in 1858 and are the Noah’s ark of vineyard plantings in Australia. It truly is one of the most unique single vineyard sites in the world, with the wines presenting a powerful sense of history and place.”
Another point of discussion at the tasting was in relation to the diversity of Barossa Valley's wine production. Estate Manager Mitch McKenzie commented that, if the Barossa Valley hadn’t made a name for its Shiraz it would've likely earnt more of a reputation for its Cabernet Sauvignons. Both the 50 Year Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 and the Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 were testaments to this.
Château Tanunda’s old vine Semillon also left an impression on the room due to striking a stylistic point of contrast to the more familiar Hunter Valley Semillons coming out of Australia.
The final wine of the tasting was the latest vintage release of Château Tanunda’s flagship, The Everest Shiraz 2020.
Reflecting on the wine, Managing Director Michelle Geber said, “since its inaugural vintage of 2005 was crowned the ‘Best Shiraz in the World’ [at the IWSC 2010], The Everest is truly the pinnacle of winemaking at Château Tanunda.”
A dense and powerful styled wine, expect ripe dark fruit and cocoa notes atop spicy oak. Château Tanunda says to drink its flagship expression from 2025 up to 2050. Also in the new collection is a Shiraz from 100 year old vines and a Shiraz from 50 year old vines, both of which continue the classic Château Tanunda style of powerful ripe fruit notes.
“These rare, collectible wines are highly sought after from vineyards that have been continually producing exceptional wines for 50, 100 and 150 years,” said John Geber.
“They are allowed to express their individual characters through our gentle and minimalistic winemaking approach when it comes to these parcels. It’s truly special to be able to showcase the story of these vines and their individual characters and complexities in the 2024 Collection, one of our finest yet,”
The complete Château Tanunda 2024 Collection includes:
- The Everest Shiraz 2020 RRP $330
- 150 Year Old Vines Grenache 2019 RRP $250
- 100 Year Old Vines Shiraz 2020 RRP $180
- 100 Year Old Vines Semillon 2023 RRP $80
- 50 Year Old Vines Shiraz 2021 RRP $80
- 50 Year Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 RRP $80
- Terroirs of the Barossa Ebenezer District Shiraz 2021 RRP $60
- Terroirs of the Barossa Eden Valley Shiraz 2022 RRP $60
- The Chateau Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2023 RRP $40
- The Chateau Single Vineyard Shiraz 2022 RRP $40
- The Chateau Single Vineyard Grenache 2022 RRP $40
- The Chateau Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 RRP $40
For more information, visit Château Tanunda's website here.
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