Langmeil Orphan Bank Shiraz
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Orphan Bank is testament to Langmeil’s commitment to preserving old and rare Barossa vineyards.
- Ten rows of Shiraz planted pre-1860 were saved from the developer’s bulldozer and replanted alongside the original Langmeil vineyard on the banks of the North Para River. Langmeil calls these ten rows the “Orphans,” but after 150 years they have a new home.
Varietal Composition: 100% Shiraz
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, homogenise 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: Medium to deep crimson with purple hues. A rich bouquet of red and blue fruits, herbs and cedar, entwined with hints of sage, roasty and savory notes. Palate Rich and juicy raspberry and Satsuma plum fill the mouth, with allspice sweetness adding to the mouthfeel. The fruit is well balanced with hints of briary spice and textural, fine grained tannins on the lengthy finish.
PRESS
2017 – 92 Wine Advocate | 93 James Suckling
2018 – 95 Wine Advocate
2019 – 94+ Wine Advocate
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.