Taylors Wines: from little things better things grow

Many wine drinkers will be familiar with the Taylors brand, a family-owned business that operates from the Clare Valley in South Australia. 

In over 50 years, the Taylors (whose wines are labelled Wakefield Estate in Europe) have built a reputation for quality, affordable wines under the Promised Land, Estate and Jaraman labels, among others. 

But while Taylors are best known for wines that retail for under $30, they also make less high-profile flagship wines under the Visionary and Pioneer labels, which honour founder Bill Taylor Snr and his son, Bill Taylor. 

The 2014 vintages of the Visionary Cabernet Sauvignon and 2014 Pioneer Shiraz have just been released, so I caught a Zoom chat with head honcho Mitchell Taylor (as you do nowadays). 

"It is true that we are probably best known for our value-for-money wines, but releases like these give us a chance to show what we can do - and what we have learned over the past 50 years," Taylor said. 

"These two wines represent the pinnacle of our vineyards and winery and showcase the two grape varieties that we started off with back in 1969."

Both wines usually sell in large volume to China and in airport duty-free outlets, but are being snapped up by collectors this time around.

Both are made only in exceptional vintages and the fifth release of The Visionary Cabernet Sauvignon honours Bill Taylor Snr - and was named best cabernet in the world at the Concours International des Cabernet, a major competition held in the birthplace of the grape variety, France.

“My grandfather had a vision to craft a great wine that could rival the famous wines of Bordeaux," said Mitchell Taylor (above).  "To achieve this goal, he knew he would need the perfect plot of land with the ideal climate. 

"When he landed in the Clare Valley, he quickly discovered its potential to grow exceptional cabernet sauvignon.” 

I may have expensive tastes, but I love this wine for its soft tannin structure and length - like a Bordeaux from a good year.  

Taylors The Pioneer 2014, meanwhile, is elegant, but with time on its side, and boasts a lovely amalgam of harmonious flavours - think a liquid rich Christmas cake.  

Taylors The Visionary Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 and The Pioneer 2014 are now available from select fine wine retailers for RRP $200. For more information, visit www.taylorswines.com.au.