Beautiful, developing peel fruit on the nose, with complex flinty matchstrike characters...There’s density and concentration to this wine, but many gentle, delicate characters too...A fab drink.
95 Points - Tim White THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW 9 December 2011
Some depth starting to develop to the colour; a subtle, sophisticated wine, stone fruit, melon, citrus and French oak all seamlessly joined, the balance and length all one could ask for.
94 Points - James Halliday AUSTRALIAN WINE COMPANION 2011
This is a very classy release from TarraWarra Estate. It's not news that Chardonnay is my weakness - and it's Chardonnay of this style which makes it so. It's pure and lengthy, powerful and refined, with sweet pear-like fruit flavour and wheatgerm-like complexing notes. Toasty oak plays a part and so too creamy/waxy texture. A grapefruity bitterness defines the finish. It is a truly beautiful wine.
94+ Points - Campbell Mattinson THE WINE FRONT February 2011
Tarrawarra Estate Reserve Chardonnay
2008 – The house style deliciously balances lush fruit
with finesse. Lovely complexities of grapefruit, lemon with solids, struck
matches and flint and rich palate full of fruit that is savoury and ripe to the
finish. Very classy wine, the aftertaste lasts for 45 seconds.
92 points. Top 100 Wine. Robert Geddes, Australian
Wine Vintages 2012
14 October 2011 - The Border Mail, David Sutherland "This is a very interesting wine. Upon tasting it masked a very
French character. Dry, complex and subtle, rather than the usual
up-front fruitiness of Aussie wines, there was a real edge of
sophistication here...Pale yellow with green hints, the nose is subtle
and very complex, with herbal, apple, honey and gunflint aromas
interplaying with the barely delectable French Oak. The palate persist
with the subtlety and the complexity with layers of texture, floral
characters and pears." 4.5 stars.
14 October 2011 - The Courier-Mail, Mike Frost "This Rhone white blend from TarraWarra's estate vineyards shows honeysuckle and floral characters on the nose and richly textured palate, finishing with fine acid structure. It would be great over the next few years with chicken or pork dishes with a Mediterranean influence." Rating 91.
28 September 2011 - The Weekly Review, Ben Thomas "If you visit the gallery (and tasting room, of course) at TarraWarra over summer, this is the wine I'd be grabbing to drink on the grass overlooking the vines afterwards. Dry, savoury and crisp, it ticks all the boxes of a modern rosé. It smells and tastes of strawberry, citrus, cherry, cinnamon and rose petals, with a hint of pinot noir's forest characters. A textural rosé, it has a fine tannic grip and good length. It was at its best with food. Food match \ Rabbit rillettes." 4 stars
15 September 2011 - The Wining Pom, Patrick Haddock "What I love about this Rose apart
from the John Olsen artwork is that it fits the dry, savoury category so well. Opened on the second day of spring
we were entertaining five kids. Something light and refreshing was needed and
this pink Pinot was more than capable of saiting a vinous appetite. It’s a desirable pale pink, smells
of raspberry and cherry pips and then delivers the equivalent of strawberries
and cream. The palate is textured and generous, the use of Pinot gives it a
rasp of tannin and of course, like all the best style of pink it ends dry and
mouthwatering. Looks like the Rosé revolution is
here to stay."
24 August 2011 - The Wine Front 2011, Campbell Mattinson "Label features a John
Olsen painting. Very dry, very pale. This
is a rose with a tannic grip. It tastes of citrus and autumn leaves, strawberry
skins and spice. It’s not a great wine by itself but with food it sings.
Flavour, in many ways, of a crisp white wine but the structure and mouthfeel
and seriousness of a red. I suspect it needs (even) more time under its belt to
show its best." 88+ Points
2009 TarraWarra Estate J-Block Shiraz
The first estate-grown single vineyard Shiraz wine from TarraWarra Estate. A cool climate wine which is displaying savoury notes of spice, supported by plump red berry fruit and fine tannins.
November 2011 - Qantas Magazine, Peter Bourne
Clare Halloran is justifiably proud of the second release of
this well-structured, deeply flavoured beauty. Savoury spice such as clove and
aniseed add interest to the boisterous, dark berry fruit flavours, as does a
solid core of firm, finely wrought tannins.
10 August 2011 - The Wine Front, Gary Walsh
From a torrid year for
reds, comes a pretty good wine. I missed the 2008 vintage. Olive, plum and bramble
fruit and quality subtle oak. Carries a slight smoky/peaty edge, but you have
look for it. Medium weight, attractive mouth-feel via fine ripe tannin, a
little warmth and fairly lively acidity. Of a distinctly savoury flavour
profile which makes for a pleasant change.
2008 TarraWarra Estate Reserve Pinot Noir
We're delighted to share our latest Reserve Pinot Noir with you made from vines with an average age of 20 years, some of the Yarra Valley's oldest Pinot Noir vines. Our winemaker, Clare, suggests you will find subtle aromas of savoury bacon, wood smoke, raspberries and game. The palate has fine, delicate fruit with subtle layers and complexity. The firm structure is balanced by the texture and the wine finished with great persistence and lingering flavours of raspberries and chocolate. Perfect to enjoy now or save in the cellar till 2016. Available for purchase at cellar door and online.
Due to the testing conditions of the 2009 southern-Victorian vintage, this release of TarraWarra chardonnay includes a 27 percent boost from Tumbarumba. Not a bad thing at all. Trademark TarraWarra complexity and power and an excellent combination of flesh and acidic drive. This is a very good wine. It tastes of white peach and yeast, toast and shells. There are some fig-like characters here too. I'm a fan. It's bonza value too.
92 points - Campbell Mattinson THE WINE FRONT February 2011
We are very happy to announce the arrival of our 2009 Estate Pinot Noir at cellar door.
It is no secret that 2009 presented some of the most challenging conditions ever faced by winemakers in the Yarra Valley. With the help of our friends in the wine industry we were able to identify and source fruit from an outstanding vineyard in Tumbarumba. This hand-picked fruit was brought to TarraWarra Estate whole-bunch for destemming and pressing alongside the fruit from our own estate and the result, a delicious multi-region blend.
The aroma is a combination of passion fruit and lychee, with floral notes and the palate is full yet crisp, with balanced acid, good length and a clean finish making for great spring and summer drinking.
Tarrawarra Estate Reserve Chardonnay
2008 – The house style deliciously balances lush fruit
with finesse. Lovely complexities of grapefruit, lemon with solids, struck
matches and flint and rich palate full of fruit that is savoury and ripe to the
finish. Very classy wine, the aftertaste lasts for 45 seconds. 
Dow