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Grey Label Langhorne Creek Cabernet Shiraz 2018

Grey Label Langhorne Creek Cabernet Shiraz 2018

Grey Label Langhorne Creek Cabernet Shiraz 2018

Overview

Overview

The distinction, elegance and power of Langhorne Creek is expressed enticingly in Grey Label Cabernet Shiraz. Evolving since the first 1967 blend, it remains constant in the quality, character and style that is Grey Label.

Grey Label Cabernet Shiraz was sourced from a region as unique as the character it bestows upon the wine. The vineyards of Langhorne Creek lie on deep, rich, alluvial soils along the banks of the Bremer River. Flooding of the river provides natural irrigation while at the same time depositing silts and sediments that contribute to the unique soil qualities, impacting the resultant wine’s character and personality.

Individual vineyard batches were fermented in small open-top fermenters for 5 to 10 days. Plunging and gentle irrigation were used to work the cap and optimise flavour, colour and tannin extraction, providing for concentration and depth of fruit, while keeping tannins plush, hallmarks of the Grey Label style. Selected batches completed fermentation in barrel, contributing mid-palate texture, while others finished fermentation on skins, providing structural length and focus.

Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz
Vintage 2018
Country Australia
Volume 750 mL
Closure Screw Cap
Alc/Vol 14.5%
Peak Drinking Enjoy Now - 2028
Winemaker Marie Clay

Awards and Accolades

Awards and Accolades

95 points Ray Jordan
93 points Mike Bennie
92 points Jane Faulkner

Ray Jordan

"Langhorne Creek has been a key part of the Blass style from the time Blass the man himself started his first blends in the early 70s. The smooth supple elegance of the region is perfectly imparted on the palate while the ever so faint leafiness on the nose is a distinct regional character. It all comes together beautifully in a harmonious integrated wine."

Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion

"What a colour - dense, dark purple; oodles of ripe plums dipped in dark chocolate with a dash of pepper and eucalypt. A sweet-sour acid edge and no shortage of varnishy, toasty oak flavoured with clove and star anise so this does need cellaring time."

Mike Bennie

“…Supple texture with a web of gummy, firming tannins. Sweet berries, plummy notes, black olive and faint eucalyptus characters with faint salted liquorice characters. Silky upfront, builds into that sense of pucker and chew to finish. Seasoned with clove oak judiciously and finishes slightly minty/eucalyptus lifted and also faintly salty. Feels fancy.”

Food Pairing

Food Pairing

Beef
Lamb
Pasta
Veg
Pizza

Taste Description

Taste Description

Nose

A rich, dark fruit profile of black cherry
and cassis, complexed with subtle
mineral notes and savoury oak.

Flavours and Palate

Layers of black and red berry fruits,
mineral nuances, warm spice and
subtle savoury oak. The palate has
richness yet finesse, lengthened by
finely textured tannins.

Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking

Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking

Langhorne Creek, South Australia

Nestled among gum trees on an ancient flood plain between the Bremer and Angas rivers, Langhorne Creek is one of Australia’s best-kept viticultural secrets. Its deep, alluvial soils and the surprisingly cool influence of nearby Lake Alexandrina produce soft and fragrantly elegant reds with distinctive mintiness.

Above average winter rains, leading to a number of floods
through the older floodplain vineyards, was followed by a
slightly drier spring, setting the vines up well. Short
January heatwaves were tempered by good leaf coverage
and cooling southerly breezes. Warm, dry days and cool
nights during ripening resulted in moderate yields and
excellent quality, fruit-focused wines.

Marie Clay - Winemaker

Wolf Blass winemaker Marie Clay discovered wine through her Dad's stellar collection of South Australian reds. Like all good fathers, he stocked up on the birth year of his two daughters. In Marie's case, that just happened to be a lovely bottle of 1979 Wolf Blass Black Label, which was cracked at her 21st birthday.

After graduating in 2000 from the University of Adelaide with first Class honours in Oenology, Marie received the Southcorp wine scholarship. This allowed her to travel and work with the company’s best winemakers across the Australian wine regions of Coonawarra, Barossa, Sunraysia and Great Western. Following these experiences, Marie worked with Lindeman’s for 4 years at both their NSW and Victorian wineries, overseeing white wine production.

In December 2006 Marie joined the Wolf Blass winemaking team in the Barossa, where she relished the opportunity to work with premium red wines from vineyard to bottle. She loves working in a modern winery that allows the fruit's potential to be realised. Langhorne Creek and McLaren Vale, the heartland regions of the Grey Label range, are particularly close to her heart.