2010 Howlin' Gale Force 10 Reserve Shiraz

The name Howlin' Gale comes from a play on the name 'Lake Breeze'. The vineyard is located on the shores of Lake Alexandrina. The country is quite flat and very windy, and the team thought the “breeze” to be more like a howlin' gale. Tom and Ack are drinkers, with a focus on the hedonistic pleasure of imbibing with friends, without the ideological and intellectual complications:- “Howlin’ Gale Wines was originally formed to assist with satisfying our own family’s drinking habits. Our mother Jen and late father Mick have been tremendous contributors to the cause.”

With a single vineyard focus, fruit is sourced as close to the lake shore as possible.

Those persistent “breezes” move the flowers around and lead to a sparser fruit set. Bunches are not as densely packed, so disease pressure is reduced and yields are naturally lower, leading to increased flavour intensity. All combined, the boys produce a wine with a classic Langhorne profile – a rich, concentrated and opulent tempest of flavour - just as the name suggests!

Maturation took place in French and American oak barriques for a period of 18 months. Totally opaque inky black crimson colour with deep dark crimson red black tinged hue. The nose shows excellent intensity with liquorice, dark chocolate and mocha aromas emerging over a background of vanillin oak. Big rich lavish palate flavours of liquorice, ripe blackberry, dark chocolate and spicy vanillin oak fill the mouth in flamboyant fashion. Plushly textured with velvet smooth tannins. Long rich voluptuous aftertaste of liquorice, dark chocolate, toasty vanillin oak and spice.
Drink over the next 3-4 years (2013-2017).
Alc 15%