Chief winemaker Loïc Le Calvez came to Australia from his native France for Taltarni's 2001 vintage. Unlike all the other Europeans who arrive for vintage, however, he never left. Loïc went from assistant winemaker the following year, in 2002, to chief winemaker in 2006 to his current post of chief winemaker/chief of operations in 2009.
Loïc's love of wine was formed growing up around his father's fine wine store in Brittany. He went on to attain a degree in oenology as well as a Masters in Law, Economics and Management in the Wine Sector from the University of Bordeaux. Loïc has worked vintages in France, including the reputable Château d'Yquem, as well as in the US and Australia.
A master blender, Loïc embraced the Australian wine industry's innovative and flexible approach to blending, as demonstrated in Taltarni's flagship Reserve Shiraz/Cabernet (Rhone/Bordeaux) wine. He has also adopted Australia's fanaticism for football, enthusiastically supporting the team who rally to the sound of France's national anthem.
Loïc's key Taltarni wine moment:
"Our 2005 Reserve Shiraz/Cabernet with an earthy dinner with friends in Autumn: nice meat slow-cooked with a Bordelaise sauce followed by a French Camembert."