Oliver’s Taranga
6 generations of McLaren Vale wine-grape growers
McLaren Vale, South Australia
oliverstaranga.com
“1839 was the year in which William and Elizabeth Oliver arrived from Scotland to settle at McLaren Vale. Six generations later, members of the family are still living on the Whitehill and Taranga farms, 2 km north of McLaren Vale. (…) since 1994 some of the old vine shiraz has been made under the Oliver’s Taranga label. From the 2000 vintage, the wine has been made by Corrina Rayment (the Oliver family’s first winemaker and a sixth-generation family member).” James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2006
YOU CAN BUY OLIVER’S TARANGA WINE ONLINE HERE>
Oliver’s Taranga Vermentino
Gold Medal (2011 vintage)
Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show 2011
90/100 points (2011 vintage)
“Just as impressed with this (90 points). Palate has the expected slender impact, great briny character and a tangy, lemon/lime citrus finish that lingers. Buzzy acidity. Refreshing and squeaky clean. A great drink and effortlessly simple to enjoy. A no brainer; bring on summer.”
Mike Bennie, The Wine Front, Weekend Edition 2, July 2011
Oliver’s Taranga Fiano
Gold Medal (2011 vintage), McLaren Vale Wine Show 2011
90+/100 points (2011 vintage)
“Gently scented candle wax, sweet lemon blossoms, slate and a whiff of hazelnut. Take me to Campania. The palate has some surprising strength, almost sternly chalky in texture, and suggesting a wine that may do some good things with time in cellar too. As is, its juicy, washy fruit takes over the youthful, steely resolve – a lilting spectrum of citrus, green pear and quince. The finish is a bit oily but it’s mostly forgiven, even enjoyed, in the exotic framework of the wine. Drink: 2011-2015”
Mike Bennie, The Wine Front, Weekend Edition 2, July 2011
“(…) Delicious.” (2009 vintage)
“Hailing originally from Campagna in Italy, fiano is a variety that has a great future in Australia. This example is lively, with fragrant citrus and pear characters, hints of pesto and wild ferment funk. It has a racy structure and a grassy edge to the finish. Delicious.”
Dave Brookes, Gourmet Traveller Wine, Great Wine Drives: Fleurieu Peninsula, Feb/March 2010
91/100 points “(…) The star was Oliver’s Taranga..” (2009 vintage)
“I tasted five 2009 fianos, all of which were good, some very good. The star was Oliver’s Taranga Small Batch Fiano from winemaker Corrina Wright. This has a winning combination of richness and delicacy, lots of personality and delicious flavour that held my interest. Straw, apricot, peach and fruit compote aromas and flavours; juicy and yet dry, generous but not broad. This is a wine that will appeal to many because of its openness and character, yet it has a point of difference.”
Huon Hooke, Sydney Morning Herald, Good Living, Jan 2010
Oliver’s Taranga Viognier
91/100 points (2008 vintage)
“Has a varietal apricot kernel bouquet with some attractive spice elements; soft acid with rich texture; well made, to be enjoyed in its youth…
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2011
Oliver’s Taranga ‘HJ’ Reserve Shiraz
92+/100 points (2008 vintage)
“Coming up to the 170th year for Oliver’s Taranga and I’ve been enjoying following their daily updates from their blog charting the final 170 days until their big celebration event. Oliver’s Taranga has been seeing a little extra time in the sun with recent releases, particularly excellent wines from their alternative variety parcels – Fiano, Vermentino and of course Sagrantino. HJ Reserve is a full tilt style and doesn’t shy away from its muscular intent. The wine shrieks with fancy oak aromatics; GW’s favourite nougat shimmies up to vanilla, coconut and cigar box spice then wafts of purple berries come through. The palate is full flavoured; again, oak leads, but it’s all pretty well kept and the overt desiccated qualities are matched by concentrated, slippery black berry and raspberry fruit. ‘Watch for the dip’, says the street-sign. There’s some judicious grip and a brilliantly juicy finish, so the wine carries the meat of oak and fruit well on the gritty tannin bones. A style that will readily suit many looking for some oomph and big flavour at their palate party. Though the lead singer is ripe fruit, the quality oak and sweet spice are currently the stars of the show. Tuck some away. Drink 2012 – 2022.”
Mike Bennie, The Wine Front, June 2011
Oliver’s Taranga ‘Corrina’s Blend’ Cabernet Shiraz (51%/49%)
94/100 points (2006 vintage)
“Co-fermentation is logical, although seldom used; this wine may cause a rethink, as the cabernet exercises excellent control; harmonious yet firm, there is no sign of heat or dead fruit, and the tannins are perfect.”
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2010
“Elegant and balanced” (2006 vintage)
“A plush, smooth and fine-grained blend whose sweet expression of dark plum, cassis, blackberry fruit, cedar/chocolate/vanilla oak, cloves and cinnamon overlie meaty, gamey characters. Framed by firmish, fine-grained tannin, it’s long, polished juicy palate finishes long and spicy, with lingering nuances of roasted coffee and mocha. Elegant and balanced.”
Jeremy Oliver, Nov 2008
Oliver’s Taranga Shiraz
5/5 stars “Hugely powerful” (2006 vintage)
“Hugely powerful, fruit-driven wine. Very traditional style with its robust plum pudding aromas and big, sweet oak/ripe fruit palate with slightly aged notes appearing. A very good wine with a long life.”
Winestate Magazine, Oct 2008
“…glossy Shiraz with tons of spicy blue and black fruits…” (2006 vintage)
“It reveals aromas of smoke, pencil lead, pepper, game, blueberry, and blackberry. This is followed by a full-bodied, layered, glossy Shiraz with tons of spicy blue and black fruits, excellent balance, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish.”
Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, Feb 2009
Oliver’s Taranga ‘Cadenzia’ Grenache
92/100 ++ points (2008 vintage)
“This is Grenache essence of the verging-on-dessert mode. It’s ultra slick and silky, with that gossamer sheen that ripe McLaren Vale Grenache seems expert at producing. It has a whiff of chocolate about it, filled with a liqueur of raspberry and wild black cherry, and then it’s been spiced up with nutmeg-and-clove oak. It is scary in its slick texture: verging on syrup, disarmingly wholesome and reassuring, and then, finally, ever-so-reluctantly, it turns on a tiny dash of focussing tannin. So it’s not savoury: it’s pure silky syrup for those who love it plump.”
Philip White, The Independent Weekly, June 2010
Oliver’s Taranga Tempranillo
“(…) made for the long haul…” (2009 vintage)
“Strong colour; a tangy, powerful wine, with that elusive citrus rind nuance lying behind the black fruits and substantial tannins; made for the long haul. Screwcap.”
James Halliday, www.winecompanion.com.au, Nov 2010
92 +/100 points (2009 vintage)
“…Flavours of malt, coffee beans, ripe dark cherries and lemon blossoms. It has a rich juiciness and a good clip of velevty tannin. Spicy aftertaste. Satisfying from start to finish. Should develop well medium term. Nice wine all over. (…).”
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, Aug 2010
