Tahbilk's '1860 Vines' Shiraz is produced from a 1/2 hectare un-grafted, pre-phylloxera original Estate planting - amongst the oldest Shiraz vines in the world.After careful handpicking, fermentation takes place in century old oak vats followed by maturation in French oak for 18 months prior to bottling and then a further 4 years "bottle-aging" before release. Appropriately an original Tahbilk label dating back to the 1870's has been tailored for this rare and unique wine.Since its inaugural release in 1979 this piece of liquid history has become one of the most sought after and collectable wines throughout the world.Tahbilk '1860 Vines' Shiraz are listed as "Excellent" in Australian wine auctioneers - Langtons Australian Fine Wine Guide - the noted reference to Australia's secondary wine market - being a "high performing wine of exquisite quality".Also, in 2002 U.S. Wine & Spirits Magazine nominated the Tahbilk '1860 Vines' plantings as one of the 25 Great Vineyards of the World along with the likes of Hermitage La Chapelle, Chateau LaFite-Rothschild, Chateau Yquem, Vega Sicilia and Krug. The vineyards selected were those where the terroir - the French term that roughly translates to the total environment of a place, including soil, climate, aspect, vine and even history - "is most clearly perceptible in the wine". Based on their own tastings, along with recommendations from world-wide industry experts, Wine & Spirits noted that "for all their flavour and richness . . . there is nothing blunt about them (1860 Vines Shiraz) . . . they share a transparency that lets the soil show through".The same publication also listed '1860 Vines' Shiraz as one of the "Best Wines of the Year" in its 2005 annual international "Buying Guide". tahbilk.com.au
