It is difficult to talk about the ‘Eric Stevens Purbrick’ reds without talking about the man and the history behind them.
Founded in 1860 by a group of Melbourne businessmen (including John Pinney Bear), by 1925 Tahbilk was solely in the Bear family’s hands. For a number of reasons beyond their control, the fortunes of the Estate at that time were in decline.
Enter my family: great-grandfather Reginald Purbrick purchased Tahbilk from the Bear family with a plan to subdivide into dairy farms. Fortuitously he was convinced by grandfather Eric to continue operating Tahbilk as a winery. Eric was then handed the reins in 1931, a role that continued for over 45 vintages prior to handing the role to myself after the 1978 vintage. Eric remained a strong influence on the direction of Tahbilk until his passing in 1991.
One of the first to place his faith in the future of Australian table wines, Eric was at the forefront of varietal labelling in Australia – perhaps his greatest legacy was to create the ‘Special Bin’ range of reds, beginning with a Shiraz in 1948.
Selected from the most outstanding casks produced on the Estate from a particular vintage, these wines became known as ‘Reserve’ in 1985. From 2002 they fittingly carry his name and signature: 'Eric Stevens Purbrick'. And so, a ‘new’ legacy with its roots firmly planted in the history of the Estate was born.
Alister Purbrick ~ 4th Generation
“You can taste a character of place and feel the voices of the past. These impressive and beautifully crafted wines are wonderful expressions of Australian terroir.”
Andrew Calliard MW ~ Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine
Enjoy Now to 2039+
A richly flavoured core of concentrated and pronounced eucalypt, cassis and dark plum fruits is peppered with cigar box and sweet spice notes from a healthy percentage of new French oak. The palate is silky smooth and impressive in length graced by finely grained tannins.
A truly notable offering that will reap further complexity if cellared, but would be sublime now with a seaweed-crusted rack of lamb with red wine sauce, or go with comfort food and serve with a braised beef and vegetable casserole.
“Deep, mellowing ruby to brick-red colour, with a very complex, detailed bouquet - undergrowth, forest floor, truffly-fungal notes, the palate refined and intense, long and elegant - not big or tannic - but very suave and subtle. Red rather than black fruits. Acidity is felt, slightly. Food would take this to another level. A gorgeous drink already. 95 Points”
Huon Hooke | www.therealreview.com
“Has retained remarkably fresh colour, its freshness on the palate repeating the message. Indeed, it speaks of elegance, not normally a feature of the Tahbilk style. The only question is how long will it take to flesh out?”
James Halliday | Halliday 2021 Wine Companion | www.winecompanion.com.au
“This is one of the showpiece wines of Tahbilk. Bold, bright mulberry, blueberry and peppermint aromas lead into a powerful but very elegant palate of great precision and length. And long ageing potential.” 96 POINTS | 5 GOLD STAR
Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine | Top 10 New Release Australian Reds
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