Tasting Tobias

Tobias

Upon noting there were only two of The Wines available for sampling upon arrival, I admit I was a smidgen dismayed - but I did not leave so. For what the tasting lacked in numbers, the prolificacy of flavours certainly more than made up.

WHITE:

·         Tobias White (2012): 100% Chenin, slight bottle shock = lightness (bottled 20 days prior to tasting). 35 year old vines. 12 months barrel fermentation. Hard goats Camembert, citrus, bitter orange & grapefruit, light savouriness, savoury marmalade, vague popcorn aftertaste, flavour grows as it warms, lurking sourdough, lime. 4^th fill barrels & older. Very old vines = concentrated flavour, stands alone well enough not to need new wood. (*)

·         Tobias Red (2012): 33% Shiraz, Cinsault, Mourvedre. Meaty cupcakes, red velvet with cream cheese icing, soft, smooth, comforting with spicy finish like a cupcake with chilli at the end, slightly bloody, like chocolate filled with cupcake, substantial but light. Varietals fermented together, whole bunch Mourvedre, 1 year in barrel (7 – 8 years old), length from tannins. (**)

2 NOTES FOR 2 WINES:

·         “Steen” – colloquial name for Chenin

·         Releasing a Mourvedre Rose 2014