2005 SHIRAZ
JAMES HALLIDAY, AUSTRALIAN WINE COMPANION
2009 Edition
Clear colour; a mix of spicy/earthy notes to the light- to medium-bodied fruit; has line and length. Screwcap. Rating: 89. To: 2009.
CAMPBELL MATTINSON, THE BIG RED WINE BOOK 2008
A lovely rendition of a cool-climate shiraz. Peppery, sappy a touch stalky and ripped with spice, the fruit cherried, medium-bodied and very easy to enjoy. The thing I like here is the bright juiciness of it, the gentle smokiness, the way the tannins have melted into the wine. There's a sense of sophistication to this wine.
GOURMET TRAVELLER WINE
December/January 2008
Anything but pinot noir. That was the sole stipulation of the tasting panel - Peter Bourne, Nick Bulleid MW, Peter Forrestal, Sophie Otton and Nick Stock - when they sampled a selection of scarlet drops out of the Yarra Valley.
The 2005 Toolangi Shiraz is made for Toolangi proprietors Gary and Julie Hounsell by Yering Station with fruit from Yarra Glen, an unofficial subregion within the Yarra. Aged in French oak for 12 months, the wine for me was quite bold in style, rich, chocolatey and aromatic. Bulleid spoke at length, enjoying its "lifted fragrant spice with ripe sweet fruit on the nose". He loved the "cedary oak flavours on the palate and its supple and fleshy fruit finishing with silky tannins, line and balance". "Beautifully composed and thoroughly drinkable," added Bourne.
MAX ALLEN, THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN MAGAZINE
1-2 September 2007
Toolangi is fast making a name for itself as one of the Yarra's finest labels, with lovely wines like this good-value, medium-weight shiraz. Made by Tom Carson at Yering Station, it has fine, fragrant, spicy flavours of red fruit and licorice.
SALLY GUDGEON, THE AGE SUNDAY LIFE
19 August 2007
This old-vine, cool-climate shiraz from the Yarra Valley has opulent spice and fleshy plum aromas on the nose. The palate is textured, with supple tannins and well-balanced oak. Serve it with braised lamb shanks.
JENI PORT, THE AGE EPICURE
14 August 2007
Perfume of herbs, bracken, sweet spice and chocolate. Excellent weight. Made at Yering Station.
JOHN CROOK, WESTSIDE NEWS, PADDINGTON
1 August 2007
SHIRAZ RIPE FOR PICKING
...The end result is a truly brilliant shiraz. This is a wine which is too good for the barbecue, although it would make a heck of a difference to what can sometimes be a bland experience. It's ideal with a rib of beef and with stronger poultry flavours, such as turkey.
BEN KNIGHT, www.benandwine.com
This was a surprise to me, a good surprise. The cool climate quality of the fruit was on display, yet it seemed very ripe. Savoury and leathery notes that gave way to black cherry, raspberry, fine tannins and very good length. This is a very good wine for $22 retail as it caters for a wide range of people. The quality and diversity of its offerings would seemingly leave no room for complaint. This is the wine version of the coolest person at the party that just has no clothes sense. Don’t let the label fool you into thinking this wine is bland, it will over delivery and impress.
