Awards and Accolades:
94 Points
"Strong tawny colour; extremely luscious; full of biscuity rancio attesting to the serious age of the wine; makes light of its alcohol, seeming much lower thanks to its fresh, well balanced, finish."
James Halliday, James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2015, August 2014
UK
"Dark tawny characters. Malty, toffee apple with woody hints on the palate."
, Decanter Magazine, October 2013
94 Points
"Strong tawny colour; full of biscuity rancio attesting to the serious age of the wine; makes light of its alcohol, seeming much lower thanks to its fresh, well-balanced, finish."
James Halliday, James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2014, July 2013
"With the cooler weather in the offing, my thoughts turn to replenishing my log pile ready for some quiet reflection and cosy moments tucked up in front of the open fire. And what better way to while away a few hours than with some hard cheese and a glass of some very special tawny port. This has beautiful structure and intense mocha flavours mingled with dried figs, dates and Christmas cake flavours. Recently awarded a trophy at the London Wine and Spirits Competition."
Peter Hay, Medical Observer, May 2013
UK
"Intense, sweet, dark and as fruity as a giant sultana squeezing itself into your face, this is the real dealwhen it comes to indulgence on the big day."
Olly Smith, Live Magazine; Main on Sunday, December 2012
UK
"A great alternative to traditional tawny port, produced in a similar fashion, but from New South Wales. A gorgeous mixture of treacle, toffee and dried fruit flavours."
, The Independent, December 2012
"This 21-year-old tawny has to be one of the most quintessential festive wines with aromas of macerated fruit, spice and a touch of nuttiness followed through with brown sugar and a touch of vanilla."
Josh Comerford, Daily Mercury, December 2012
UK
"Glowing bronze amber in colour with deep mahogany tones. Concentration of all the elements is sublime. Dried figs, dates and currants, molasses, Christmas cake spices with a smokey mocha burn – your tongue tingles with the amount of fabulous concentration and length on the palate. At the end of the evening, this is a taste where you could and will utterly lose yourself in pleasure."
, Drinks Business, December 2012
"A fascinating and hugely enjoyable alternative to Tawny Port, from South East Australia. Full of complex nut, raisin, demerara, mocha and vanilla flavours, it has a long satisfying savoury finish..."
Jonathan Ray, GQ Magazine, November 2012
"From De Bortoli's vast stores of fortified wines and sporting smart new packaging. At 19.5 per cent there's plenty of grunt here, yet its quite elegant and smooth with its fruitcake-like flavours and nutty characters."
Kerry Skinner, Illawara Mercury , September 2012
USA
88 Points
"Multi-vintaged with an average age of 21 years, the NV Old Boys Old Tawny has a pale to medium amber color and very intense aromas of treacle, gingerbread, liquored raisins, walnuts and molasses cake. Very full-bodied, rich and sweet (170 grams per liter of residual sugar) it has very nice balance and a very long finish going a little savory. Drink this one now."
Lisa Perotti-Brown, eRobertParker, May 2011
89 Points
"This is an average of 21 years old, making it the rough equivalent of a 20 year old tawny Port, but in a softer, fruiter style. Brown sugar and baking spices mark the nose, followed by flavors of fig, date, cinnamon and walnut. It's full bodied and richly concentrated, spicy and warming on the finish."
Joe Czerwinski, Wine Enthusiast (USA), January 2011
An attractive, well freshened, nutty tawny with balanced sweetness and some rancio complexity
Fortifieds, Winewise, June 2010