De Bortoli
Established in 1928 by Vittorio and Giuseppina De Bortoli, a couple who emigrated from Northern Italy to Australia, De Bortoli Wines is one of the larger family-owned wineries in Australia. Today, the third generation Darren De Bortoli is the managing director of the company. From its original home base in the Riverina region of New South Wales, De Bortoli has expanded its vineyard holdings to include sites in New South Wales’s Hunter Valley, as well as Victoria’s Yarra and King Valleys. The cooler-climate areas of Victoria, such as Yarra Valley, are conducive to growing classic varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Viognier. In New South Wales, the vineyards in Riverina experience a warmer Mediterranean climate, which helps to produce one of the winery’s most noteworthy bottlings, Noble One, a botrytized Semillon dessert wine. For more information about the wines from this Australian producer, visit our De Bortoli wine reviews.
De Bortoli 2005 db Selection Petite Sirah (South Eastern Australia)
- Best Buy
- $9
Aromas are of intense, ripe blackberry fruit heavily dosed with vanilla. The palate deals much of the same, but dialed down a notch in intensity. Feel is smooth; 10,000 cases produced. Imported by De Bortoli Wines USA Inc.
— D.T.
(8/1/2006)
De Bortoli 2005 Reserve Release Chardonnay (Yarra Valley)
- $40
Shows subtle oaking in its hints of toast and vanilla, but the standout facet of this wine is its ripe melon fruit, which gives it size and roundness but lacks a little touch of richness. The result is an easy-to-drink wine that’s clean and refreshing on the palate.
— J.C.
(5/1/2007)
De Bortoli 2006 Estate Grown Viognier (Yarra Valley)
- $25
Broad and pleasantly textural, even if it doesn’t show the brash, flamboyant Viognier aromatics you might expect. It’s spicy and toasty, showing good energy and freshness on the finish.
— J.C.
(3/1/2008)
De Bortoli 2007 Regional Classic Shiraz (McLaren Vale)
- $23
De Bortoli ranges far from its Riverina and Yarra Valley roots to source this Shiraz, which features a slightly meaty, gamy edge to its blackberry aromas. It’s a little riper-seeming than usual for De Bortoli, but still retains the winery’s emphasis on structure, with crisp acids marking the finish.
— J.C.
(4/1/2009)
De Bortoli 2008 Estate Grown Chardonnay (Yarra Valley)
- Online Exclusive
- $30
Searching for New World Chardonnay that’s restrained, crisp and only 12% abv? Steve Webber at De Bortoli is your man. This medium-bodied Chardonnay displays a hint of custard to its texture, while the flavors are citrus driven and refreshing.
— J.C.
(2/1/2011)
De Bortoli NV Emeri Sparkling Shiraz (South Eastern Australia)
- Online Exclusive
- $13
A more somber garnet color than some other sparkling Shirazes, with seemingly lower pressure and a more vinous character. Vanilla, leather and cherry notes finish close to dry. A very good, inexpensive introduction to the genre.
— J.C.
(2/1/2012)
De Bortoli 2004 Deen de Bortoli Vat 8 Shiraz (South Eastern Australia)
- Online Exclusive
- $13
A very good wine at a fair price, De Bortoli's Vat 8 features just enough leather and spice layered over blackberry, blueberry and vanilla flavors to impart complexity without overshadowing the fruit. Finishes a bit crisp, with the emphasis on tart berry flavors.
— J.C.
(6/1/2007)
De Bortoli 2008 Deen de Bortoli Vat 9 Cabernet Sauvignon
- $13
Despite the reasonable price tag, this is a very good bottle of Cabernet, the kind that should be poured by the glass at your local steakhouse. The mixed berry and cedar flavors are easy to like, and it has enough crisp acidity and silky tannin to stand up to rare beef without being overly heavy or rich.
— J.C.
(9/1/2010)
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