2007 Tapanappa Wines, Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc, Australia
About this WINE
Tapanappa Wines
The Tapanappa winery is a joint venture established in 2002 between the highly regarded winemaker & viticulturalist Brian Croser (ex Petaluma), Bollinger Champagne House and Jean-Michel Cazes from Chateau Lynch Bages. The aim has been to produce unique Australian“terroir” driven wines from single vineyards that enjoy cool climate conditions at 450m altitude.
The Tapanappa name derives from a 550 million year old geological formation that underlies the Fleurieu Peninsula where the Croser family have a sheep farm and vineyard. The Tiers Vineyard, planted 1979 with Chardonnay, is the first vineyard planted in the Adelaide Hills thus pioneering the cool climate wine industry of South Australia.
The Foggy Hill Vineyard is on the highest point of the Fleurieu Peninsula and was purchased by the Croser family in 2003. It is planted with Pinot Noir.
Whalebone Vineyard is a cooler-climate vineyard in Wrattonbully (just north of Coonawarra) planted in 1974 with Cabernet Sauvingon and Shiraz. The soil here is terra rossa from the Oligocene era (over 35 million year-old).
James Halliday has rated Tapanappa as a 5-star winery in his Austrlian Wine companion guide.
Wrattonbully
Part of South Australia’s Limestone Coast, Wrattonbully was first known as ‘Koppamurra’ twenty-eight years ago. Potentially larger than either Padthaway or Coonawarra, but only Mildara, Hardys, Orlando & Yalumba have invested to date. The remaining land still the pastured playground of farming homesteads & doctors.
As with its neighbours, Wrattonbully is blessed with an natural acquifier, albeit one whose salinity level is rising (currently 1000 ppm). The region is one degree celsius warmer than Coonawarra, but one degree cooler than Padthaway. Wrattonbully is notable for its 100 metre elevated undulating Naracoorte Hills, giving a diurnal shift and higher acidities; its lower relative humidity (minimising grape rot); its moderately low fertile terra rossa (loam over ironstone & limestone) soils allowing detailed pruning (vs the non-detailed/hedge pruning practised in Coonawarra) and consequently better fruit quality. Approx. 1000 ha planted with fresh, varietally pure Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay.
Recommended Producers
Yalumba’s Smith & Hooper vineyards, Brian Croser’s Tapanappa & the Nolan Family Wines are all good producers.
Merlot/Cabernet Franc
Merlot and Cabernet Franc are grape varieties commonly used in Bordeaux-style blends, particularly in the Bordeaux region of France. When these two grapes are blended, they can create a wine that combines the best characteristics of each variety.
Merlot is known for its smoothness, soft tannins, and ripe fruit flavours. It often contributes black cherry, plum, and chocolate flavours to the blend. The grapes are relatively easy to grow and ripen earlier than other Bordeaux varieties, making them versatile for blending.
Cabernet Franc, on the other hand, adds structure, depth, and complexity to the blend. It typically brings aromas of red fruits such as raspberry and strawberry, along with herbal notes like bell pepper and tobacco. These grapes have thinner skins and can be more challenging to cultivate, requiring specific growing conditions to reach their full potential.
When Merlot and Cabernet Franc are combined, the result is a well-balanced wine with various flavours and aromas. The blend often exhibits a Bordeaux wine's medium to full body, along with a smooth texture and moderate tannins. The specific flavour profile can vary depending on the proportions of each grape in the blend and the terroir and winemaking techniques employed.
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Description
2007 Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc and displays the very ripe fruit flavours and texture of this exceptionally small, warm and early vintage.
The Whalebone Vineyard is a special terroir for these two demanding varieties with a heat summation of 1400 to 1500ºC days and its bright red clay loam based on 37 million years-old limestone.
The Merlot provides hallmark ripe plum and fruit cake aromas and flavours with big solid tannins and the Cabernet Franc slides in hand in glove with the Merlot providing floral aromatics and a silky tannin finish. Complementing these typical varietal expressions, the Whalebone Vineyard terroir provides its own unique thumbprint of smoky Eucalypt, earth and anise. Despite the ripeness the alcohol is in balance and the silky ripe tannins meld with the ripe fruit flavours.
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