If you're planning a visit to a wine area make sure you visit one of the big producers. They set a benchmark against which the smaller winemakers can be evaluated. Sometimes the big guys surprise you and often they disappoint. Which is why we had to visit Taylors and we are so glad we did. This family owned winery has achieved so much in 50 years and with what we tasted the future looks outstanding.
Most wine drinkers would be familiar with their Estate Label featuring the sea horse logo. Sadly it's become a label at the mercy of the volume retailers who manipulate the market with huge variations in price. Their Jaraman range is far more obscure but even that is currently on some retail shelves for 60% of their cellar door price. The vintages we tasted were outstanding.
Our Cellar Door visit highlight was tasting their two ranges that aren't on retail shelves: the TWP and Taylor Made Range. Contact the winery for these on 08 8849 1118 or email cdsales@taylorswines.com.au.
We tasted a lot of wines. Here are the ones that scored the 5/5 rating from us. It's a long list with their cellar door prices. Be careful of the vintages, the ones listed are what we tasted. Insist on those.
ESTATE RANGE [$20] lowest I've seen in the last 12 months is $11
2018 Sauvignon Blanc [Adelaide Hills]
2018 Tempranillo
JARAMAN RANGE [$25 for chardonnay, $32 for reds] Currently $20 to $23 at Dan Murphy, but check the vintages.
2017 Chardonnay
2017 Pinot Noir [Yarra Valley]
2017 Shiraz
2016 Cabernet Sauvignon [Coonawarra/Clare Valley]
TAYLORS WINEMAKER'S PROJECT
2017 Riesling $25
2015 Tasmania Pinot Noir $40
2017 Shiraz $25
2017 Cabernet Sauvignon $25
TAYLOR MADE [$25]
2016 Pinot Noir [Adelaide Hills]
2017 Malbec
2017 Shiraz
2017 BDX [Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Malbec/Cabernet Franc blend]
