MEDIA REVIEWS
What the wine writers say
"Very good producer of wines with class and character. Rating 
Tallis Silent Showman Shiraz Viognier 2003. Typically good purple-red; a very concentrated wine, courtesy of the drought perhaps; viognier has fully tamed the tannins as it so often does; plenty of rich blackberry plum fruit, however. Rating 91. Drink 2013.
Tallis Dookie Hills Shiraz 2004. Strong, deep purple-red; rich blackberry and plum fruit, withsome stylistic similarity to the Shiraz of Heathcote; cooler vintage a plus. Rating 90. Drink 2014.
Tallis Dookie Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. Bright purple-red hue; lively, fresh cassis, raspberry and mulberry fruit; good length and line. Rating 90. Drink 2010.
Tallis Dookie Hills Sangiovese 2004. Sweet morello cherry fruit; alcohol seems higher than it in fact is; a tweak of acidity on the finish. Rating 88. Drink 2010.
James Halliday
Australian Wine Companion 2007 edition
Viognier 2004
The typical richness and viscosity of viognier is here in spadefuls, but it avoids the oily heaviness of some viogniers. It opens with a little reduction, no doubt locked in by the screw-cap which doesn’t mar it. The palate is soft and rounded, and finishes clean and dry. Quality: 3.5 glasses. Value: 4 stars Ralph Kyte-Powell & Huon Hooke - The Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide 2005/2006
A fresh, restrained and pristine viognier with delightful varietal qualities. Its musky dusty rose and apricot blossom perfume and its supple, elegant and creamy palate avoid the broadness and fatness evident in so many contemporary viogniers, presenting vibrant flavours and some nutty complexity finished by lively, refreshing acidity. 90 points. Jeremy Oliver - On Wine 2004
“Ripe & Full White Which one? 2004 Tallis Dookie Hills Viognier, Victoria. $20. When? For those relaxed evenings when you’re cooking a quiet dinner for two of roast chicken with fennel (either roasted with the bird or raw in a salad with a lemony dressing. Why? Because there will be times over summer when you want a white with some richness and texture – a white just like this excellent value viognier. Max Allen Gourmet - Traveller Magazine 2005
Viognier has a big future here. This one’s got lots of perfumed lift, all apricot and nuts and spice, all of which carries on to a flavoursome, mouthwatering palate. It hits the tongue and punches a ball of sunny harmonic, generous flavour up and out of the glass. Excellent drinking. Drink: Now. 87 points
Campbell Mattinson - Winefront Monthly 2005
Tallis Dookie Hills Viognier 2006
“Tallis Wine was established in 2000 by the Tallis family to produce shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, sangiovese and viognier. What, no chardonnay? Obviously the Tallises feel there is no need for the popular blonde given viognier’s presence. And what a presence. This is a wine with a big future: fragrant pear, apricot and honeysuckle on the nose and palate, really juicy, tangy with clean acidity. A bit of a stunner.” Jeni Port - The Age. August 2007
“Recommended. Having some interesting varietal character without heavy phenolics; ripe tropical and apricot fruit.” Rating 88.
James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion 2008 edition.
Tallis Dookie Hills Rose 2005
A thumper of a wine… Tallis Dookie Hills Rosé 05. From their vineyard at Dookie, in north central Victoria, Dick and Alice Tallis (yes really) have produced a thumper of a wine. Bordering on too sweet, bordering on ridiculously fruity (think melted cherry-flavoured cool pops), this magenta rose is very much for the fans of very big pinks. Drink with an equally big curry”
Max Allen – Taste. The Weekend Australian February 2006
Tallis Dookie Hills Rose 2006
Recommended. Vivid red-purple; lively red cherry and strawberry running through a lingering, dry finish. Rating 89.
James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion 2008 edition.
Tallis Dookie Hills Sangiovese 2005
Recommended. Fairly typical spicy cherry/sour cherry aromas and flavours; light to medium-bodied, and those faintly dusty tannins of the variety. Rating 88.
James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion 2008 edition.
Tallis Dookie Hills Shiraz 2004
Strong, deep purple-red; rich blackberry and plum fruit, with some stylistic similarity to the Shiraz of Heathcote; cooler vintage a plus. Rating 90. Drink 2014.
James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion 2007 edition.
At this price, a bargain buy for enjoying now or during the next few years. This Central Victorian shiraz should be pounced upon for its clean and precise expression fruit laced with intriguing traces of sweet spice and chocolate. The body and structure have been arranged with economy in mind, for despite its rich flavour this is by no means a large wine. Rather, it’s a very tidy package with ideal integration of flavour, oak, acidity and tannin. Rating 5 – Unbeatable.
Paddy Kendler. Herald Sun - 2006
Tallis Dookie Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Bright purple-red hue; lively, fresh cassis, raspberry and mulberry fruit; good length and line. Rating 90. Drink 2010.
James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion 2007 edition.
Tallis Silent Showman Shiraz Viognier 2004
Highly recommended. Medium-bodied; very lively, the viognier lift making its presence felt early; vibrant flavour provide the pleasure, rather than any tannin contribution. Rating 90
James Halliday - Australian Wine Companion 2008 edition.
“This gentle midweight red has a fresh aroma of blackberries and blueberries, some milk-chocolate richness and apricot-like viognier scents. It is silky with balanced soft tannins.” 4 stars
Ralph Kyte-Powell Uncorked The Age Epicure 28 August 2007