2018 Langmeil The Long Mile Shiraz

2018 Langmeil The Long Mile Shiraz 

Langmeil The Long Mile Shiraz 2018 is an Australian Shiraz style red wine from the Barossa Valley region in Australia.

Winemaker Notes

Plentiful winter rains gave the vines a healthy start to the 2018 growing season. A warmer and drier than average spring hurried things along and early estimates indicated above average bunch numbers in most varieties.

Late spring and early summer were relatively mild resulting in good flowering and fruit set. However, dry conditions continued and both berry size (lowering actual yield) and shoot length were somewhat diminished.

Several heat spikes in late January and early February (it’s not a South Australian summer if you don’t have a couple!) interrupted veraison, with the picking of some of our earlier ripening vineyards delayed until the beginning of March (later than expected). Perfect, mild ripening weather followed to the end of April ensuring all Eden Valley parcels achieved full flavour ripeness slightly earlier than forecast.

Despite a later than anticipated start and an earlier than usual finish, the compressed harvest produced wines of deep colour, flavour and balance across the board.

Another ripper Barossa vintage!

Paul Lindner, Chief Winemaker

The Barossa Valley wine region has historically and currently still is one of Australia's most prestigious premium wine producing regions. Located just 60km north east of Adelaide city centre, the climate there is very hot and dry which is perfect for the big bold reds the area is famous for.

A straight Shiraz is what Barossa is most well known for, however Rhone blends, such as Shiraz Cabernet are also very popular. While much less prevalent, white wines (Chardonnay, Riesling, Semillon) are planted on the higher altitude hillsides where the ocean breeze cools temperatures down to a level suitable for producing these varieties as well.

Some of Australia's earliest Shiraz plantings can be found here dating as far back as the 1850's. While not always a guarantee of quality, it might be worth seeking out and trying one of the region's "old vine shiraz" if you haven't yet.