Tatiarra Culled Barrel Shiraz 2013

The Tatiarra Vineyard, located in the Heathcote region, was established in the early 1990s and consists of 10 acres of low cropping shiraz vines. Such was the quality of the 2013 vintage across all vineyards at Tatiarra, it was initially anticipated by the directors that very little or no Culled Barrel would be produced. However, winemaker Ben Riggs was ruthless, culling barrels that failed to improve the flagship wines. This ensured that the 2013 Culled Barrel Shiraz would overdeliver in an extraordinary way.

"Not for the first time, the Culled Barrel wine offers by far the best value of the three '13 Tatiara Shirazes. It has the same deep colour, opulent fruit, generous oak, abundant tannins and alcohol. Super special."  James Halliday

The 2013 Culled Barrel is a decadent and hedonistic wine with a massive core of rich fruit. The palate fairly ripples with juicy, blackberry and plum fruit, spice and pepper. Powerful and seductive. A stunning wine for the price and a veritable bargain in the Heathcote landscape.

The 2013 vintage was an outstanding one for Tatiarra. Upon completion of tasting and compiling the final blends winemaker Ben Riggs commented… "Wow and ouch. Wow because 2013 blends are crazy good and ouch cause geeze that's a hard tasting, so concentrated and awesome."

"Tatiarra's Heathcote Vineyard occupies a unique parcel of earth. Around 500,000,000 years ago, natural forces, moulding the world, hardened the planet's surface forming Cambrian rock. Today, that rock exists as a discontinuous band of red earth, extending from the Heathcote township and running north past Colbinabbin, parallel to the Mount Camel range. The Tatiarra Vineyard is sustained by this band of soil derived from this ancient Cambrian rock in which Shiraz vines thrive, producing fruit of incomparable quality and wines of matchless character. The resulting wines are perfectly balanced, possessing tremendous exuberance and are capable of long term cellar development.

2013 Culled Barrel Shiraz: This 'near perfect' reject is the result of Tatiarra's ruthless pursuit of perfection with winemakers Ben Riggs and Peter Flewellyn culling any barrels that are not up to the lofty standards of the Estate's top labels. In order to achieve the extraordinary quality of Tatiarra's flagship wines (Cambrian and Caravan of Dreams), each barrel from each vintage is tasted and classified. Any barrels, that for whatever reason, fail to improve the flagship wines are culled."  Tatiarra

Expert reviews

"A decadent and hedonistic wine with a massive core of rich fruit. The palate fairly ripples with juicy, blackberry and plum fruit, spice and pepper. Powerful and seductive. A stunning wine for the price and a veritable bargain in the Heathcote landscape."  Nick Munday, Canterbury Wines - 95 points and Special Value Wine  ★  (Tasted Aug 2022)

"Not for the first time, the Culled Barrel wine offers by far the best value of the three '13 Tatiara Shirazes. It has the same deep colour, opulent fruit, generous oak, abundant tannins and alcohol. If that (the alcohol) doesn't bother you, this is a super special. Drink by 2033."  James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion - 91 points and Special Value Wine  ★ 

"Very deep, dark purple/red colour, the bouquet is oaky and charred timber-like, with toasty notes and evidence of substantial oak-maturation. The palate is very firm, with tight tannins pervading, and a touch of astringency. Wow, this is ballsy stuff. It demands time. Drink: 2018–2037."  Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 91 points

"Power and presence. Intense wine that coils and springs across the palate, flushing it out with sinewy tannin and rich, deeply concentrated thrust of dark fruits and dark chocolate. Molten chocolate in perfume too, hints of blueberries, lashings of cedary, spicy oak. It's a full on wine but should be embraced by those seeking some heft and serious punch from shiraz. You won't forget drinking this too soon; it's well done in its style."  Mike Bennie, The Wine Front - 91 points

Awards

Special Value Wine – Halliday Wine Companion  ★
Special Value Wine " Canterbury Wines  ★

About the winery

The Tatiarra Vineyard is located in the Heathcote region and was established by Bill Hepburn in the early 1990s and consisted of 10 acres of low cropping shiraz vines. Tatiarra is an Aboriginal word meaning 'beautiful country'. Bill lived out of a trailer on the property, not far from a large gum tree under which he built a thunderbox - thus the inspiration for Tatiarra's flagship wine, the 'Caravan of Dreams'. Tired of the long cold nights, Bill sold the property to a group of investors. The property grew in acreage and now occupies 143 acres entirely planted to shiraz. The company's obsession is not to be the biggest, but rather one of the best Shiraz producers in the world.

Tatiarra's north-facing vineyards are located on the western side of Mount Camel and lie on the famed red Cambrian soil. The wines are made by renowned winemaker Ben Riggs, who commutes from McLaren Vale to Scotchmans Hill winery in Geelong to make the wines. The wines are powerful with a monumental structure and richness.