Langmeil Rough Diamond Grenache
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Grenache has long been held in high esteem by Barossa winemakers. Despite being criminally overlooked elsewhere due to a workhorse history, it has hidden depths and excellent potential. Like a Rough Diamond which is quite ordinary at first glance, its real beauty as a jewel is only revealed through the cutting and polishing process.
- The vineyard for this Grenache is located in Eden Valley which is in the Barossa Valley.
- The vines that produce this Grenache are 47 – 100 years old.
- The soils here consist of deep sand over red clay and iron stone.
Varietal Composition: 100% Grenache
Elaboration: The harvest is hand-picked and delivered to the winery, where they are gently worked through the de-stemmer before being transferred to open fermenters. The juice is pumped over twice a day for seven days to extract, homogenize and regulate temperature before draining and hand loading the basket press by shovel. The skins are then gently pressed for approximately 20 hours to retrieve more of the essence of the grape. The pressings juice is then blended with the free run juice, collected earlier. After each wine destined for barrel has completed its malolactic fermentation, it is matured in seasoned American oak barrels for 8 months prior to bottling. Langmeil does not fine its wine and uses only minimal filtration during all stages of wine production to guarantee individuality, quality and longevity.
Tasting Notes: Light to medium depth crimson with purple hues. Lifted black cherry, raspberry and rose blossom with hints of sweet spice and white pepper. Sweet, juicy fruit flows over the palate which is light to medium bodied. The red berries are balanced nicely with brambly and peppered spice and soft yet drying tannins which continue through the long and fruitful finish.
PRESS
2018 – 92 James Suckling
2020 – 91 James Suckling
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Langmeil is a blend of Barossa’s cultural beginnings and a family’s modern day commitment to world-class, old vine winemaking. Once a trading village established in 1842, this remarkable place is a captivating pocket of Australia’s wine and vine history that is a must when visiting the Barossa. Owned by the Lindner family, whose own mark on the Barossa spans six-generations of farming, food, community and wine, Langmeil is renowned for its preservation of old vines and the making of distinguished wines from these cherished sites. At the pinnacle of its winemaking is The Freedom 1843 Shiraz, made from what is understood to be the world’s oldest surviving shiraz vineyard believed planted in 1843 at the heart of this historical patch of Barossa earth.
At Langmeil, the Lindner family strives for excellence in both the vineyard and winery, to produce wines that sit amongst the world’s best at prices everyone can afford. The renowned Australian wine writer, James Halliday AM, in his Australian Wine Companion, rates Langmeil a ‘five red star’ winery. In 2014 Langmeil’s flagship wine, The Freedom 1843 Shiraz, joined the prestigious Langton’s Classification VI honor roll in the ‘excellent’ category. Today, Richard, Shirley, Paul and James continue to recognize the efforts of all who have helped shape Langmeil to become the world-class winery it is today.