2012 1847 Pappy’s Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa

This Australian Cabernet Sauvignon is a flavorful surprise.

The Most Famous Aussie Region

When we visited Australia in 2019, one of our “must-see” destinations was Barossa Valley, the most famous of all Aussie wine regions. Our first stop was Chateau Yaldara.

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Chateau Yaldara operates from an impressive chateau building with a bubbling fountain and a grand staircase to the front entrance. Before the first sip, we felt special.

The winery was founded by Hermann Thumm, who arrived from Europe in 1941. The term “Yaldara” is the local First People’s term for “sparkling.” The winery is on the banks of the North Para River at the site of a flax mill dating back to 1867.

Uncorking Memories

To revive the beautiful memories, we opened a bottle earlier this week that we had purchased there: the 2012 1847 Pappy’s Cabernet Sauvignon. The 1847 range is reserved for the winery's finest wines.

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We fired up the grill with a couple of nice filet mignon and opened our bottle of 2012 Pappy's Cabernet Sauvignon. At the tasting room, we were impressed with the blueberry notes and smooth profile. Now with the steak, there were initial notes of cedar followed by mint and herbal flavors, eucalyptus too.

As a more mature wine, the tannins have fallen away. For some reason, I was expecting a big bomber of a wine, but this was all about finesse and nuanced flavors. It’s a great contrast to Napa and Washington Cabs, which we have more frequently. We paid A$55 or about $40 US – an incredible value.

Langmeil: A Barossa Valley Winery Visit

The Barossa Valley is the heart of the Australian wine industry. Throughout its history, it has excelled in the production of Shiraz. We had a chance to visit the home of the country’s oldest Shiraz vines – Langmeil Winery.

The Freedom Vineyard is believed to be the world's oldest Shiraz vines.

A Pioneer And Timeless Vineyard

When we arrived at Langmeil Winery in Australia’s famed Barossa Valley, we really stepped into history. In 1842, Prussian immigrant Christian Auricht established one of the Barossa’s first trading villages on the banks of the North Para River, naming it Langmeil. Auricht had migrated from Europe seeking religious freedom. A blacksmith by trade, he also planted a mixed-use farm. This historical site is home to Langmeil Winery today.

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The legacy of Auricht continues into today. The Freedom Vineyard, planted as part of the farm in 1843, is believed to be the oldest surviving Shiraz vineyard in the world.

The first winery was established in 1932, but the property went through a number of hands. The fortunes of wineries on the property had ups and downs, with the doors finally closing in 1993.

A Tradition Of Family Winemaking Continues

In 1996, three friends collaborated to purchase the derelict property and restored the old buildings and landscaped the grounds. The trio named the winery Langmeil, after the original 1842 village. In the renovation work, a gnarly patch of Shiraz vines from Auricht’s 1843 planting was discovered.

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Today the winery is operated by the Lindner family, which arrived in 1845 to settle in the Barossa Valley. Langmeil’s family winemaker is Paul Lindner. He is a veteran of more than 20 vintages. With parents Richard and Shirley and brother Paul, James Lindner is a family proprietor/director of Langmeil and also oversees sales and distribution both in Australia and around the world.

Three Gardens blends three Rhone varieties.

Historic Roots – Modern Excellence

We saw quite a few modern wineries during our visit to Australia, but the cellar door for Langmeil is quite a different story. The tasting room is located in the former stables. We found no horses, but did find some fantastic wine and a charming rustic decor.

The day was blistering hot and I had opted to take a shortcut through the vines. My wife meanwhile cruised to the tasting room in air conditioned luxury!

Dry Riesling from Eden Valley provided the first refreshing sip. The 2018 Wattle Brae Dry Riesling was crisp with good acidity and absolutely life saving from the record temperatures outside. We kept the cooling trend going with the 2017 Three Gardens blend of Viognier (59%), Marsanne (31%) and Roussanne (10%). I love these white Rhone grapes and this was satisfyingly rustic.

Bring on the refreshment with Bella Rouge!

The 2018 Bella Rouge Cabernet Sauvignon rosé is a fuller bodied blush with excellent strawberry notes. Australia does Riesling well –- and so does Langmeil. We capped our exploration of the whites with the 2018 Live Wire Off Dry Riesling.

Ratcheting Up To Reds

With my heat tremors finally over, it was time to flip the switch to red wines. We started by exploring the Village Red range, beginning with the 2016 Black Beauty Malbec. This was a pleasant surprise for me and a great value at $A30. The 2016 Della Mina is a blend of Sangiovese and Barbera. Barossa is known for is German roots, but the Lindner family has long ties to northern Italy and this bottle shines with cherry, spice and earth.

Mataro is another name for Mourvedre and the 2015 Mataro was next on our list. This one was a miss for me. I was ready to move on to the limited Old Vine Garden Range.

"Orphan" vines make great Langmeil Shiraz

Our first sip was spectacular. The 2016 The Fifth Wave Grenache comes from Old Vine Grenache grapes in Lyndoch. Langmeil may be the first winery to do a straight varietal bottling from this vineyard as opposed to using it as a blending grape. The vineyard shines in a light and elegant wine riffling with raspberry and a nip of spice.

The apex arrived with our next bottle, the 2016 Orphan Bank Shiraz. It is a full bodied beauty, made with 10 rows of pre-1860 Shiraz vines saved from the developer’s bulldozer. Plum and raspberry fill the palate. Smooth tannins help you enjoy the ride for the very long finish.

Langmeil is a highly recommended destination while in Barossa. The wineries commitment to preserving history, Old Vine vineyards and family winemaking translates to a fun, friendly experience filled with superb wine.

Technorati Tags: Barossa Valley,Australian wine,Shiraz

Australian Winery Visit: Chateau Yaldara

Chateau Yaldara was one of the first boutique wineries in Barossa Valley. For more than 70 years the winery has made the most of its Mediterranean climate to produce imaginative wines.

The stylish tasting room inside Chateau Yaldara

Barossa Valley Bound

While planning our recent trip to Australia, my wife accused me of only thinking about wineries. To that I plead guilty, although at her urging we fit in a number of other great activities. One place that was a “must see” was Barossa Valley, the most famous of all Australian wine regions.

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Our tour operator for our visit was Taste The Barossa, which we happily recommend. Our first stop was Chateau Yaldara and what a smashing way to begin.

Chateau Yaldara operates from an impressive chateau building with a bubbling fountain and a grand staircase to the front entrance. Before the first sip, we felt special.

The winery was founded by Hermann Thumm, who arrived from Europe in 1941. The term “Yaldara” is the local First People’s term for “sparkling.” The winery is on the banks of the North Para River at the site of a flax mill dating back to 1867.

Start With The Sparkling

Sparkling reds are favorite treats at holiday time in Australia

One thing about this part of our Australian journey that will remain seared in our memory is the intense heat. During our stay in Adelaide the temperature set a new high, rising to 116 degrees Fahrenheit. When we entered through the chateau’s front doors, the heat was already ramping up outside.

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We entered a private room for our tasting and our host knew just what we needed. The first pour was the Sparkling Pinot Noir – Chardonnay. One great discovery for me during our trip was Australia’s great sparkling wine. This bottle was pale pink in the glass with streams of tiny, energetic bubbles.

The wine is made using the tank, or Charmat, method. In the glass this is crisp with citrus and cherry notes. My wife and I alone could have finished a couple bottles due to the soaring heat.

The Foundations Sauvignon Blanc delivers the satisfaction of the grape without overly intense acidity. The wine has a smooth texture with flavors of citrus and tropical fruit. The acidity is light and the wine is balanced. A great refreshing wine.

Chateau Yaldara’s 1847 range comprises its upper end wines. Our first taste was the 2014 1847 Wines Sparkling Petit Verdot. Sparkling red wines are popular in Australia, especially for holidays. This is dark cherry red in the glass with the flavor of whipped fruit and berries. This was surprisingly good.

The 1847 Pappy's Cabernet Sauvignon was a favorite

Shiraz – Calling Card of Barossa

I enjoy the unique and unusual as well as the next person, but now I was ready for the main act – Barossa’s famous Shiraz. Of course, this is the same grape as Syrah, but Australian winemakers have elevated this grape in high alcohol, powerful red wines of their own style. By the way, be sure to pronounce it “sheer-AZ,” at least in Australia.

The next glass was the 2016 Chateau Yaldara Foundations Shiraz, a wine made to drink now. It is a wine with flowing oak and plum flavors. It has some nice deep mocha playing bass. The ABV is 14.5%. This is a great accessible wine with all the hallmarks of Barossa with a tasty price of A$25.

The 2012 1847 Wines Pappy’s Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the finest wines we tasted on our trip. This is a deep, rich wine with blueberry, blue and spice. The age has mellowed the tannins and the French oak barrels adds just the right touch of oak. We purchased a bottle for A$55.

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Grapes for this wine come from the 1847 Estate Vineyard, in the Rowland Flat sub-region noted for the bright red color of its soils. The soil has an assortment of roughly rounded, granitic pebbles not found anywhere else in the Barossa. It gives Pappy’s Cabernet and other 1847 wines a distinct and outstanding character.

We closed our tasting with the Classic Tawny, a Port-style wine. Although not stated, I assume this is made with Shiraz and Grenache. Wine is aged in barrels and then blended together and fortified. The average age of the Tawny is 10 years.

This is a toasty wine, as you may expect, with nutty and rich toffee flavors. It is a great way to end the evening or to sip as you savor a cigar before the fireplace.

Chateau Yaldara is a captivating winery to visit. One taste and you’ll know why Barossa Valley is one of the world’s great wine regions!

Technorati Tags: Australian wine,Australia,wine tasting,Shiraz,Barossa Valley,wine

Two Hands 2016 Gnarly Dudes Shiraz, Barossa Valley

Two Hands is a winery that is making a splash internationally. They have captured our attention with artfully crafted wines that express the terroir of superb Australian regions including McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley.

Gnarly, Dude!

This wine’s name is not an attempt to appeal to California surfers! Gnarly Dudes by Two Hands was inspired by the Cohen Brothers movie The Big Lebowski and is also named for the gnarly old Shiraz vines used. The grapes are from Barossa Valley, Australia’s most famous wine region.

We’re big fans of Two Hands and are pleased to see they are generating significant buzz in the US with the wine media and consumers. Two Hands Gnarly Dudes can be found in Costco and in other stores I’ve overhead customers quizzing the wine manager about the availability of Two Hands.

Two Hands Winery was founded in 1999 by Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz. Today, Two Hands is owned by Michael, together with Colorado native Tim Hower. The goal then and now is to make the best possible Shiraz-based wines from prized growing regions throughout Australia. Determined to be different than the formulaic style of Shiraz sold internationally, Two Hands turned the focus on spotlighting the regional and vineyard characteristics. In short, they are focused on the fruit.

We recently tasted the 2016 Gnarly Dudes Shiraz and it is a joyful wine. At our farewell party in Ohio (prior to our move to North Carolina) we uncorked “the Dude” and it impressed with rich Shiraz flavors. This is a wine that can be appreciated by a connoisseur or a novice. In the glass it is a dark purple. It is rich and plush with deep blackberry flavors. This is a refined and integrated wine.

Shiraz, Syrah: Two Sides Of The Same Coin

For those unfamiliar with Shiraz, it is the same grape as Syrah. The styles of the wines produced by the grape can vary. Shiraz is a signature red grape of Australia. Some Shiraz from down under can have a degree of sweetness but it is also capable of producing some of the world’s greatest wines.

The 2016 Dude gets 12 months in 15% in new French oak and the remainder in one to six-year-old French oak barrels. The alcohol is 13.8%. This is a wine that can age for six to 10 years, but drinks beautifully now. We recently tried the 2014 vintage, and the two extra years of bottle age added to the beauty of the wine. Gnarly Dudes retails for about $32 and is a delectable value at that price.

Put your Two Hands in the air for this outstanding wine!

Full disclosure: We received this wine as a marketing sample.

Two Hands Garden Series Elevates Aussie Shiraz To Lofty Heights

Whether you call it Shiraz or Syrah, we dig this grape. Two Hands Wine is delivering eye-opening Shiraz expressive of Australia’s best regions.

Contenders For Top Wines Of The Year List

Each year I compile a list of our top wines of the year. It’s a lot of fun reviewing tasting notes, posts and photos.

As I was preparing to do this year’s edition, it dawned on me that I hadn’t reported on two of the best bottles of 2016 – Two Hands Wine 2014 vintages of Bella’s Garden and Lily’s Garden Shiraz. I’m correcting that wrong right now.

We tasted these two as part of Wine Studio, an online wine education program. We previously wrote about Two Hands Wine and their unique philosophy of winemaking. We love their focus on crafting wines that express the essence of the best Australian wine regions.

Fresh From The Garden

Our latest tasting focused on Two Hands Garden Series wines, specifically the Bella’s Garden and Lily’s Garden. They are from Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale respectively, two of the world’s premier wine regions. Simply put, these are outrageously good wines. One sip will win the heart of any wine lover.

We sampled both bottles with some home-made beef stroganoff. This is not a classic pairing, but it worked well with the duo of wines. That’s probably because they are so good they would elevate the most pedestrian fare.

Amplifying our enjoyment was the contrast between the two wines. Each wine represents well the hallmarks of their particular wine region. Bella’s Garden has the boldness of Barossa, while Lilly’s Garden has the elegance of McLaren Vale.

Both Shiraz have deep flavors and lush finishes. They are 14.2% alcohol, but have no “hot,” alcoholic feel. About 90% of any wine is water and some wines taste like that – but not the two Two Hands (not to be confused with tu-tu) Shiraz at our table. The robust, radiant flavors are expansive.

Barossa and McLaren – A Winning Duo

From Barossa, Bella has a focus on dark fruit flavors with blackberry and spice flavor notes. The wine is aged in French oak for 18 months, but just 17% new oak – so the wine is far from tannic. Unlike a two-year old Napa Cabernet, which should age for several more years to let the tannins integrate, Bella’s Garden is ready to be harvested right now. It can still cellar for 10 to 15 years, but we would suggest getting multiple bottles and enjoying one now.

With origins in McLaren Vale, Lily’s Garden has a focus on rich red fruit. There are blueberry flavors to delight you along with notes of vanilla and mocha. Like Bella, Lily has a supple texture that coats the palate and a finish that lingers like a warm summer day. That’s very appealing right now as the daylong snow continues outside my window.

These wines retail for about $46 each. I hesitate to mention this, because you can’t really put a price on happiness. These are wines to savor and are sure to bring a warm smile from the Land Down Under.

Best Fruit, Best Regions Key Two Hands Aussie Shiraz Success

In Australia the Syrah grape is known as Shiraz. The warmer temperature and ideal growing conditions allow full ripening and a bold, blockbuster style.

Australia Rocks Shiraz

We are enormous fans of Syrah. Whether it is from the Rhone region or Washington State, it is a grape that delights us with often earthy and brambly flavors. In many New World countries, especially Australia, the grape is called Shiraz. It’s unclear where the name came from. Perhaps it was believed that the grape originated in the Persian city of Shiraz and somehow migrated to France.

Shiraz is an iconic Australian wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon is to Napa Valley. The Shiraz in Australia is bursting with berry rich flavor, whereas Syrah in other countries can be bottled with heavy tannins. If you, like me in days past, had a mental image of Australian Shiraz as being a sweeter red wine – it’s time to make that thought go “poof.” We explored a pair of Shiraz from Down Under during a recent Wine Studio online learning program.

Two Hands Winery Aims To Highlight Terroir Differences

Two Hands Winery was founded in 1999 by Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz. Today, Two Hands is owned by Michael, together with Colorado native Tim Hower. The goal then and now is to make the best possible Shiraz-based wines from prized growing regions throughout Australia. Determined to be different than the formulaic style of Shiraz sold internationally, Two Hands turned the focus on spotlighting the regional and vineyard characteristics. In short, they are focused on the fruit.

Two Hands has several wine ranges. The Flagship is their top tier, with a strict classification process that only allows the use of the best barrels of wine in production. The Garden Series is a super premium range from six of the finest Shiraz growing regions in Australia. In addition to the Single Vineyard series, the Picture Series is the point of entry with unique and regionally distinctive wines.
We explored two bottles from the Picture Series paired with handcrafted pizzas.

Angels and Dudes!

A hallmark of the Picture Series is the irreverent attitude. The two wines we sampled were Angel’s Share and Gnarly Dudes. The Cabernet is dubbed Sexy Beast.

Angel’s Share refers to the small amount of wine that evaporates from oak barrels during aging. Medieval winemakers assumed that angels were watching the process and they took their share. Luckily they left enough for us to enjoy with our pepperoni, green pepper and Colby cheese pizza.

Angel’s Share is from the famed McLaren Vale appellation. In the glass, the wine is dark red with a purple edge. This is a vibrant wine that bursts upon the palate. On the tongue there are deep cherry flavor notes. There is also an herbal aspect to the wine punctuated with notes of spice.

The wine is aged for 12 months in a combination French and American oak. The ABV is 14.5%, but this is a beautifully balanced wine with no feeling of extra “heat.” It retails for about $42.

Green Dragon cooked up two other gourmet pizzas, a thin crust barbeque chicken and spinach pizza and a basil, tomato, feta Mediterranean pizza. Clearly we needed more Shiraz!

Gnarly Dudes was inspired by the Cohen Brothers movie The Big Lebowski and is also named for the gnarly old Shiraz vines used. The grapes are from Barossa Valley, Australia’s most famous wine region. In the glass, as you can see in the above photo, the Dude is a much darker purple. While the Angel’s Share was all about red fruit and herbs, the Gnarly Dudes is rich and plush with deep blackberry flavors. This is a refined and integrated wine.

The aging is done for 12 months with 15% in new French oak and the remainder in one to six-year-old French oak barrels. The alcohol is 13.5%. Not only did the Dude stand up to a spicy pizza, it had great length –with a finish that lingered mightily. This wine retails for about $32.

From the first sip, the care that went into the growing of the fruit and the winemaking are evident. Both Shiraz are solid enjoyment from the word “go.” They are available in the US and can be found online. 
Full disclosure: These wines were received as a marketing sample.