Chateau Tanunda
Grand Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
The year was 1870, the European wine world was decimated by the spread of phylloxera, that root bug that destroys vines, and the unthinkable happened. Soon all of Europe’s thirsty populace would not have wine or brandy. Since the beginning of time, this way of life and tradition was on the verge of drastic change. Suddenly there was a dire need to find an alternative source for wine, no matter the cost. Fortunately, in South Australia's Barossa Valley, many little wineries were established up to 20 years earlier and began to find their way to Europe to take up the slake.
A consortium of 4 men in Adelaide, sensing opportunity in Europe's pain, saw the potential for South Australian wines on the world market and founded a business called The Adelaide Wine Company, which later changed its operating name to Chateau Tanunda. Vines were first planted here in 1845, and a winery was first established three years later. The iconic bluestone Chateau itself was built in 1890 and has been one of the Valley's most recognized landmarks. The building of the Chateau, at the time, was the largest building in South Australia and the largest winery in the Southern Hemisphere. Construction took two years to complete and was inspired by a French Bavarian style. The length of a football field, its cellars’ walls were three feet thick and could store 1.5 million gallons of wine. Its south cellars were cut into the side of a hill for better temperature-controlled aging.
Ownership of the winery changed in 1916 when the Seppelt family became owners of the winery; the Seppelt family remained owners until 1998. In an interview with present owner, John Geber in 2009, he states how he discovered the Chateau. One morning, during a morning bike ride in 1998, this successful businessman and entrepreneur saw Chateau Tanunda for the first time, which had a sign on the door stating "Do not enter." He went inside to find the windows were broken, the roof open to the skies, and pigeons roosted throughout the 37,674-foot, two-story structure. But it did boast three-foot thick bluestone walls and an imposing 61-foot tower! The building had been for sale for six years. He bought the property the very next day.
John slept in the building, which was never designed for overnight stays, and discovered that the building was haunted. "I had some interesting nights!" he said about the ghosts making themselves known, but he elaborates no further... What goes on in haunted houses stays in haunted houses.
Eleven years later, Château Tanunda boasts 220 acres of vines and produces 25 wines, from sparkling to still, made from over a dozen different grape varieties. The property also includes a magnificent cellar, a grand ballroom, a long room, a wine store, a sunken garden, a croquet lawn, and a cricket pitch. Its 130 years of winemaking heritage makes it the only internationally-recognized winemaking Château in Australia.
Australia remains the second-largest source of imported wine in the U.S., behind Italy. Large-volume brands under $10 a bottle are down 2%. The over-$10 per bottle category experienced an increase of 14.6%, thanks to a renewal of U.S. interest in high-end Australian regional producers. Barossa is often compared to Napa Valley, about the same size, and both produce intense red wines, inky black fruit, and savory herbs. Home to world-class producers, Peter Lehman, John Duval, Torbreck, Two Hands, and many more. 
Chateau Tanunda is one of the most highly awarded wineries in Australia. They were recently awarded "Best Australian Producer" last month, earning their 9th consecutive Berlin Wine Trophy, the largest global wine competition. Robert Parker has called them one of the top value wineries in Australia. The Wine Spectator has awarded them 3 Top 100 rankings, and they have received four consecutive "5 Red Star" Awards from the Halliday Wine Companion.  
The wines of Tanunda are classic Barossa: rich, ripe, concentrated, and intense. Besides sourcing from their vineyards across Bethany, Eden Valley, Tanunda, and Vine Vale sub-regions, the Chateau also buys fruit from 30 growers, including some of the descendants of Barossa's original settlers. All fruit is hand-picked (unusual for Australia) and the grapes basket-pressed. The wines are neither filtered nor fined.
From The Winery
For our Grand Barossa wines, we select grapes grown throughout the Barossa and its myriad of sub-regions. It is this tapestry of 'terroirs' which enables us to create our classic and refined house style.
The grapes are destemmed, but not crushed, and fermented in small stainless steel open fermenters. Fermentation takes place over 7 days with twice-daily hand plunging.

After draining the free-run juice, the skins are gently pressed in the JLB Vaslin Bucher press before 18 months maturation in a mixture of new and seasoned French oak barrels.
Winemaker Notes
Lifted aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, and vanilla are accompanied by vibrant, dark berry fruits on the palate. The finish is long with fine-grained tannins from sixteen months maturation in a combination of new and older French oak hogsheads. Although drinking well now, this wine may be cellared for up to ten years from vintage.
Accolades
A big, rambunctious expression of the variety - deep, dark red color in the glass, with plums...jumping. The palate is more obviously cabernet with Ribena (black currant) and fine, ripe tannins weaving nicely together. Huon Hooke's The Real Review 90 pts

Offering excellent fruit purity and intensity, the beautifully lifted bouquet shows blackcurrant, Black Doris plum, violet, and spicy oak characters. It's equally satisfying on the palate with excellent weight and textural mouthfeel backed by chalky tannins, finishing engaging and immensely appealing. At its best: now to 2032 Wine Orbit 94 pts
From a selection of vineyards across the Barossa and Eden valleys, small-batch fermentation matured for 18 months in French oak... Good value. Drink by 2028 James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion 93 pts
This Week's Wine Insider Offer
Chateau Tanunda Grand Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

This wine was brought to us by a salesman of ours that thinks outside of the box and saw an opportunity for us. This pallet of wine was forgotten in a warehouse in New Jersey; he found out about it, did a little research, and got us a bottle to try. We liked the wine a lot, and when we found out the price they were willing to offer us, we loved this wine. I tried it with our staff, and they agreed. This wine is an excellent representation of Cabernet done right from Australia. Dark inky color, deep brambly fruit, cherry, and black currants, well-integrated and finely balanced tannins, and a long, lush finish. Pretty sure you will not be able to find a better Cab at this price. We bought the only available palate of this wine; get it before it is gone.
Regular Price: $15.99
*Sale price is on 6 or more bottles, wine is packed in a 12 bottle case.
How To Place Your Order
To order, simply send an email to your preferred Yankee Spirits superstore with one of the addresses to the right, along with:

Your Name
So we know who to hold the order for and your name is not always obvious by your email.

Desired Quantity
So we know how much to hold.

How'd you like to pay
Let us know what payment options you'd like...

  • Unpaid Hold: We can hold orders as unpaid for the duration of this promotion, but cannot guarantee fulfillment on them.
  • Credit Card: Please don't send credit card information via email.

All request are processed during business hours and in the order they are received. We'll confirm your order via email within 48 hours and when it is ready for pickup. Unless otherwise specified, promotional pricing ends two weeks from email send date.
YANKEE SPIRITS
STORE LOCATIONS
James Taylor
Don Ackerman
John Hannum
Barbara Holt
Pricing is subject to change without notice once this promotion ends in two weeks or when we run out of product. Whichever comes first.
Place your order now with the store contacts above, while you've got all the information at your fingertips.

Cheers!

John Hannum, Fine & Rare Wine Specialist
Attleboro
628 Washington St.
Norwood
942 Providence Hgwy.
Sturbridge
376 Main Street.
Swansea
207 Swansea Mall Dr.
Monday-Thursday
9AM to 9PM
Friday-Saturday
9AM to 10PM
Sunday
10AM to 6PM
We reserve the right to limit quantities. You must be at least 21 years of age to purchase/consume alcohol. Please drink responsibly. Not responsible for typographical errors. Rebate quantities are subject to limitation by the manufacturer. These alcoholic beverages may be subject to payment of Connecticut or Rhode Island Alcoholic Beverage Tax and Connecticut Use Tax, and may be subject to seizure as contraband.