The Taylor family had earlier been very successful publicans with a significant hotel chain across New South Wales. They made the bold decision in the late ’60s to give that up to pursue a dream of making wine. Bill Taylor travelled to Bordeaux for inspiration before visiting every wine region in Australia scouting out land. The Clare Valley won the day and the first vines went into the ground in 1969.
The company remains family run, now into its third generation with Justin Taylor at the helm.
2022 Taylors St Andrews Riesling
Rating Outstanding
Finely scented, talc,
lemon & lime citrus &
zest. Powerfully
expressed, creamily
textured palate, stony
minerality, a core of
lime citrus running
through the wine, an
almost spicy aspect to
this with racy acidity.
Develops a note akin
to musk/Turkish
delight, wisps of
ginger on the very
long, spicy close. The
winemaker suggests
up to 20-year
cellaring.
2019 Taylors St Andrews Chardonnay
Rating Excellent
Rather beguiling
nose, attractively
seasoned oak, white
peach, nectarine,
spices, a cooler feel
rather than overtly
fat. Nicely
mouthfilling, ripe yet
not sweet, a
bittersweet quality
provides contrast.
Delightful integration
and elegance to this,
already drinking very
well and should
perform well over
the next five years.
2018 Taylors St Andrews Shiraz
Rating Excellent to Outstanding
Mixed berries, plum,
berry compote,
spices, oak evident
but not dominating,
growing perfume.
Lovely depth here,
quietly sumptuous
yet with finesse too.
Clearly Aussie
Shiraz yet with
freshness too. The
winemaker speaks
of trying to build
delicacy in the wine
and suggests
cellaring 3-8 years,
though it is already
very approachable.
2018 Taylors St Andrews Cabernet
Rating Excellent to Outstanding
Rather more
brooding, darker
fruits, currants,
stony, dusty hints of
leaf. Sterner
mouthfeel, taut and
structured. Again
stony notes, a
blackcurrant/cassis
character evident as
the flavours build on
the mid to late palate.
A stayer rather than a
sprinter. The
winemaker suggests
either drink this
young on its fruit, or
after 8-10 years+.
2015 Taylors The Pioneer Shiraz
Rating Excellent
Hints of
(mackintoshes) toffee/
caramel, darker fruits,
deep, brooding, some
barrel spices. Supple,
filling the mouth, power
yet not at all
overpowering. Growing
spiciness and intensity,
with good acidity giving
this nice freshness. I may
be under-rating this; I
suspect that this has a lot
more to give with time.
Taylors The Visionary Cabernet Sauvignon
Rating Outstanding
Subtle at first, quietly
growing and drawing
you in. Dusty stones,
flecks of crushed leaf,
spices, perfume, ripe
cassis. A tangy
brightness to this,
melding sweet fruit with
zesty crushed leaf.
Bright acidity and
mouthfeel, the tannic
stucture deceptive. A
sense of elegance here,
with hints of cigar box
emerging. Wonderful
length. A long future for
this.
