De Bortoli has an extensive collection of aged wine stocks maturing in barrel. Old Boys has been selected from the finest barrels of this aged Tawny and blended to an average age of 21 Years. This Tawny is a luscious wine with complex nut and wood aged flavours making it the perfect accompaniment for fine coffee, rich cheeses or dark chocolate.

HIghly awarded and certified 21 years old.

Tasting Notes

Colour

Classic tawny colour with streaks of amber.

Nose

An array of aromas are on display with dark raisined fruits, mocha, hints of vanillin oak and nutty aged barrel characters.

Palate

Initially luscious, nuances of mocha and coffee have integrated over time, barrel-aged flavours in harmony resulting in a smooth, lingering drying finish.

Winemaking

Producer

The De Bortoli family story is one of determination and triumph that started 90 years ago in war-torn Europe and is now told, generations later, across Australia.

Their heritage encompasses the universal story of immigrants making good in an adopted land, the rise and rise of the Australian wine industry and the tale of a hardworking and innovative family who considers good wine, good food and good friends to be among the true pleasures in life.

Reviews

"Fine aromas brimming with the aged complexity of a mediaeval souk: mahogany, date, walnut, cedar, tamarind, sandalwood and bitter orange. A volatile rancio riff services lift and freshness. This is a compelling wine on many levels. I wish the acidity was not so shrill, but there is plenty of nourishing warmth to placate it." 94 points. Ned Goodwin MW, Halliday Wine Companion 2023, Aug 2022

"Full rancio bouquet with aged, honeyed nuances. Ageing brandy complexity to the dry palate showing nice sweetness and soft spiciness." 97 Points. Winestate Magazine, Aug 2021

"Gold and brown tawny. Dense, rich and complex. The concentration and luscious texture from age evident in the liquored fruit, flavours, dried fig and nutty rancio oak characters. More physical than finessed in style." 95 Points. David Bicknell, Halliday Wine Companion 2020, Aug 2019

"A complex, nicely ageing, drier style with an elegance of lingering dried fruit characters and nutty rancio layered with chocolate/coffee-like elements and finishing quite dry." 5 Stars. Winestate Magazine, Aug 2019

"A very rich and luscious release: toffee, coffee grounds, chocolate, Christmas cake, spirit no issue. The extra age has brought an element of finesse with it." Rating: 95 James Halliday, Wine Companion 2019, Aug 2018

"Tawny or tawny port as it used to be called, is Australia's most popular fortified wine style, and De Bortoli's Old Boys Tawny is a classic. It has an average age of 21 years, which is achieved by drawing on the family's extensive collection of old wines. It is matured in oak casks, deriving vanillin oak and nutty aged barrel characters on the nose and palate." Hannah Sparks and Nick Blair, Drinks Trade, Aug 2017

"Deep, reddish tawny. Nutty, caramelised figs and raisins. Terrific piercing intensity and freshness and an intensely sweet wine. Much more grapey than a port but equal in complexity. Bitter toffee aftertaste and amazing length." Julia Harding MW, Dec 2016

"Utterly superb and moreish port-a-like from Australia" Jonathan Ray, The Field (UK), Jan 2016

Specifications

Tasting Notes

It starts with cassis, a nose full of promise. Clove and black pepper spice. The palate is dark and sultry with a dried fruit appeal. It finishes with a gentle lick of oak from the time the wine spends in oak.

This wine is truly exciting showcasing the incredible potential of McLaren Vale Grenache.

Tasting Notes 

Forgotten IDA Grenache is light crimson in colour, generous raspberry and rhubarb tart bouquet with subtle fruit sweetness and creamy but textured palate.

History

The closest vineyard to the sea in Australia, the Lost Buoy vines grow within 50 meters of the cliff edge, high above the rolling waves of the Great Southern Ocean. The maritime influence refreshes the vines to create a naturally healthy growing environment.

The Lost Buoy vineyard is planted with eight acres of Grenache and seven acres of Shiraz vines. With an average age of 15 years, the vines’ roots are anchored deep into the Pliocene Hallett Cove Sandstone and Burnham Limestone of the cliff head, bringing an intricate minerality to the wines. The elemental growing conditions and shallow soils produce a humble yield of perfectly balanced fruit, on average just 1.5 to 2 tonnes per acre.

Winemaker, Matt O’Leary, is on deck to steer the fruit through the winemaking process, producing a fleet of wines to showcase and respect the distinctive characters of the grapes and where they are grown.

Now that the Lost Buoy vineyard has been found again, the vines speak clearly of the ocean they overlook, producing wines with elegance, vitality, crisp maritime acidity and earthy mineral complexity.

Specifications