Taltarni Old Vine Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

The Taltarni Old Vine Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is rich, intense yet balanced. This wine is all-round delicious and full of complex flavours with red berries upfront followed by earthy tones and soft tannins. Perfect with food, this wine will really lift your meal to the next level!  

This week I wanted to share with you a delicious wine that I tried from Taltarni over the weekend. They have recently celebrated the launch of their incredible flagship wine The Patron which represents the epitome of the estate’s quality in terms of both vineyard and winemaking. I shared this wine recently on Instagram, and it is truly perfect for a special occasion or for the special someone in your life, with only 2000 bottles available.

If you aren’t in the market or don’t quite have the budget for a higher price point wine, Taltarni also has you covered with their great range of red wines. I have to say I was introduced to Taltarni through their beautiful Sparkling Wine which I first had at a Good Food and Wine show many years ago. Since then I’ve been enjoying their range of traditional method Sparklings which always hit the spot. So I was overjoyed to get the chance to try their range of red wines. And boy did they deliver!

The Taltarni Old Vine Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 – a foodie’s dream

The Taltarni Old Vine Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is from the Taltarni Old Vine Series which was created to showcase their winery traditions and the elegance of old vines in their Pyrenees vineyard. Although I may have only known them for their delicious Sparkling Wine, Taltarni was actually founded on created these big, beautiful reds.

This wine is from the initial block of Cabernet Sauvignon planted in the late 1960’s. It was developed to showcase the intensity that comes from their old vines, and the quality and complexity that can be delivered in these old vine wines year on year. The wine has also spent 18 months in a combination of new and seasoned French oak barrels, so you are truly in for a treat when it comes to the flavours! Between the oak and use of old vines, this wine is complex and absolutely delicious.

Why I loved it

I found it a little too difficult to stop at one glass of this wine. Usually, I am not a huge fan of really heavy wines, but this one knocked my socks off. It was full of complex and rich flavours, with a full aroma and taste intensity that leaves you wanting another sip.

The Taltarni Old Vine Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 has a beautiful deep intensity in the glass, and on the nose, I got rich red fruits – particularly raspberry and cherry, as well as a hint of spice. Definitely a bit of smokey vanilla from the oak, and some star anise. There was also a nice earthy flavour to it that rounded out and balanced the fruity intensity of the wine. The flavours of the wine linger for a long time after you sip it, and the tannins are nice and soft. I loved how balanced it was even though there was so much going on in terms of flavour!

What to enjoy it with

The Taltarni Old Vine Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is best paired with food. It is quite a full-bodied wine, and so will go perfectly with a nice meal. This wine would go best with meat dishes or a tomato-based vegetarian dish. Think slow-roasted lamb or beef, or some short ribs, or a nice steak and grilled vegetables.

If you are in the market for something to keep for a few years, you could also cellar this wine and enjoy it after a few years in the bottle. I think it would really benefit from a bit of time to develop the flavours further. However, if you are impatient like me, don’t think too much about it and enjoy it right now!

The final word on the Taltarni Old Vine Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

The Taltarni Old Vine Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 is a perfect food wine and full of complex flavours. Although it is not as affordable as some other wines, it is great value for something so intense, balanced and complex. To get an Old Vine wine for such a good price is well worth the extra dollars. Just sip and savour the richness of the fruit, balanced out by soft tannins.

You can purchase this wine from Taltarni, and discover their other wines here.

Note: I was sent this wine as a sample. I was under no obligation to post about it.