2012 Longhop Shiraz

‘A Bomb of a Shiraz that’s patently under priced. This is what 2012 is all about.’

Late last year we made the point that if you're looking for testaments to the once-in-a-decade kind of quality that 2012 is offering from South Australia, then the best place to realise it is in the entry level wines. From the ground up, it's a year to cellar, a year to drink, a year to buy. Last month, James Halliday arrived at the same conclusion: "The ’12 vintage wines are now coming through in joyous abundance. By the time the 2015 Wine Companion has headed off to be printed, I’ll know just how many wines scored 94 and above. It will be an impressive number, more than in any prior vintage, even ’10."

If you're not stocking up on 2012 reds, you're not doing your cellar or your wallet any favours. Right now the price/quality ratio is as good as it gets. Here is yet another remarkable offering that showcases what 2012 is all about. From a partnership between Tim Freeland & Domenic Torzi who have located small parcels of old vine Grenache, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon in the Adelaide Plains region, the Longhop wines are made with minimal intervention, open fermented and basket pressed. No fining or filtration is used prior to bottling. Fruit for the Shiraz is procured from a range of vineyard sources ranging in age from 15 to 50 plus years with yields around 3 tonnes per acre. The resultant wine was matured for 16 months in a combination of seasoned 60% French and 40% American oak.

Totally opaque inky black dark crimson colour with deep dark crimson black hue. The nose exhibits ripe blackberry and liquorice scents over some dark chocolate, vanillin oak and subtle blackpepper notes. Big opulent palate possessing copious richness with mouthfilling flavours of ripe blackberries, liquorice and dark chocolate which overlay vanillin oak and blackpepper characters. Plush, succulent texture with velvety tannins and long aftertaste of ripe blackberries, liquorice, dark chocolate and peppery vanillin oak.
Drink over the next 5-6 years (2014-2020).
Alc 14.0%