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The Last Emperor is Kym Tolley's opportunity to create a new dream, a personal stamp, and creative energy from all that came before him. It reflects his dedication, made possible by his mentors, education, training, and 30 years of producing wine in the Coonawarra.
Kym's inaugural release of The Last Emperor is now available exclusively online, with free shipping generously applied at checkout to all orders within Australia.
Please Note: We currently do not offer international shipping through the website, however are happy to make arrangements. Please contact kym@kymtolleywineco.au for international shipping enquires.
The Last Emperor 750ml
Coonawarra | Barossa Valley | McLaren Vale
The 2021 vintage was ‘near perfect’, which made my life as a winemaker very satisfying. My first Coonawarra vintage with my then-new business in 1989 was a shocker, but I worked persistently with what I had and a trophy was the ultimate reward.
The Last Emperor is full-bodied; the tannins, acid, flavour and smoothness are unique to The Last Emperor. My aim was to adapt my winemaking technique for this structural balance.
It will develop each year but has the balance for drinking now and the structure for cellaring from 10 to 30 years.
Tasting Notes
This wine is an extension of what was learned and inherited. It is an unashamedly traditional style of winemaking with balance, variety, oak, and region. It has soft mid fruit and strong, fine-grained tannins.
The Last Emperor boasts unique grape flavours of Coonawarra and McLaren Vale, enriched through vital connections to exceptional 100-year-old Barossa vines. A style much copied now, but few reach the excitement that this wine produces.
Vintage
2021
Vineyard Regions
Regional blend sourced from Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, and McLaren Vale.
Vintage Conditions
2021 has been quoted by many as a 'near perfect vintage'.
Coonawarra: One of the great vintages, similar to the flourishing 1990’s. A long, cool, dry ripening season.
Barossa Valley: The vineyard and grape quality was exceptional.
McLaren Vale: A very strong year with early harvest.
Oak Maturation
Two years in French barriques and Puncheons. The new oak proportions are 52%.
Colour & Aroma
Colour is dark red with a deep intensity. Fresh, vibrant fruit and Smokey oak. The aroma is distinct ripe blackberry and spicy Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon with a beautiful integration of French oak. Complexity will be evident as the wine opens up after pulling the cork.
Palate
Balanced, layered, and integrated flavours. This full-bodied wine has an immediate soft and rich smoothness to the mid-palate. The wine can be seen as layered and complex. The ripe Shiraz with only hints of pepper. Rich blackberry cabernet sauvignon flavour and distinct grape tannins.
The finish shows a great flare for its fine oak and grapes tannins. The wine is soft and integrated for drinking now, but tannins, what they are, will allow the wine to complex over a long cellaring period.
Potential Bottle Maturation
Winemaking has changed, and the careful balance of acid and tannins, locked in with the two grape varieties’ inherent richness, will appear soft and smooth for drinking now. Don’t be fooled; this has potential for 30 years!