Review: Tapanappa Whalebone Cabernet Shiraz 2018

Too much. That’s the challenge with both the latest Tapanappa Whalebone reds. This is a bit easier than the Merlot Cab, but still heavy-going, despite the obvious quality.

From a warm, dry Wrattonbully vintage (Heat summation of 1799 degree days vs 1464 average). 20 months in 50% new oak. It smells of oak barrels – milk chocolate, currants. plum, brick dust and berry liqueur. Oak is the dominant feature here, a cloak that hides the terroir and character. It’s unequivocally more balanced than the Merlot Cabernet, but it’s also a heavyset red that is more about winery than region.

I can admire the length and impact (still a strong silver medal score), but this is much harder to drink than it should be.

Best drinking: definitely later. A good five years would be welcome. 17.5/20, 91/100. 14.5%, $55. Tapanappa website. Would I buy it? No.