The wildly drinkable Tokar Estate Carafe & Tumbler Pinot Shiraz 2020

April 21, 2021

The wildly drinkable Tokar Estate Carafe & Tumbler Pinot Shiraz 2020

This Tokar Estate Carafe & Tumbler Pinot Shiraz 2020 is, very simply, a good drink.

It shouldn’t need to be anything else. Especially with the name of ‘Carafe and Tumbler’. No, it should be a light and fruity wine of simplicity but not much depth. Tumbler meet light red.

Yet for what is an easy-drinking Yarra quaffer this is really quite concentrated. Martin Siebert’s light red has actual flavour – concentrated, well-handled, and joyously ripe, packed full of surprising Pinot fruit, topped up with darker Shiraz berries. There aren’t any tannins to speak of, but that’s the only quibble because the evenness and the balance is excellent. It’s a triumph. A statement that says ‘why shouldn’t we take light reds seriously’. A Beaujolais Villages from someone good, yet with an Aussie accent.

What a win. Best drinking: now, for maximum effect. 18/20, 93/100. 13.5%, $25. Tokar Estate website. Would I buy it? In a heartbeat.

2020, Pinot Noir blends, Yarra Valley

Andrew Graham was once voted the 23rd most trusted wine critic on the planet. A WCA Journalism Young Gun now old hack with 25yrs as a buyer, judge, journalist, marketer and too much more.

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One response to “The wildly drinkable Tokar Estate Carafe & Tumbler Pinot Shiraz 2020”

christopher JANSON

July 6, 2021 at 8:47 pm

I especifically printed out your tasting notes to this way back in April as I bought a mixed six pack from Tokar Estate for a very good price and the 2019 was in it. Damn Andy, just noticed but your review if of the recent release, the 2020, and therefore, i have to go off pedigree. That shits me as i can’t compare apples with apples, or tasting notes with tasting notes. Or oranges with oranges or …..whatever you want to think about. Back to the vino.

BUT

Hold on a second. Isn’t the Grange built on consistency? Surely a winery that has impressed you no end for a year or so built on the same foundations? Surely I, and don’t call me Shirley Andy, a wine lover, can compare notes with you, a wine afficianado.

So I am doing it with the 2019 Tokar Carafe and Tumbler 2019 yarra valley pinot/shiraz.

What a bloody mouthful firstly. Marty was making it in 2019, so for yours, he came back.

Always a good sign. 13.5% booze, good.

I had a 2013 Maverick GSM as an entree so you know about heavier styles that suppress.

This Tokar unique blend, first in my life, lifts with the acidity and leaves the GSM in its path but it is not better than the gsm, it is only that it skids away leaving its own skid marks. Andy, where the hell did that wine making prose come from? Yarra quaffer that is quite concentrated. Thats what you said and you nailed it. There aren’t any tannins to speak of as you said, and there aint any. The balance is excellent. Andy – so true.

I loved your review, you nailed it. 18/20 seems a point too high but the uniqueness of blend here is the winner.

No wonder you like the vineyard so much……

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