Print this Wine         1999 Clonakilla "Langhorne Creek" Shiraz   LANGHORNE CREEK                 January Release   Shiraz       Tim Kirk, winemaker at the super impressive Clonakilla establishment had a big problem for the 1999 vintage. He had virtually no fruit. A massive spring frost decimated his crop. With the volumes so low Tim searched around the country to try and find some grapes to so that he could still make wine and offer something to the legion of loyal followers he has developed over the past few years. This wine is not like the estate grown Shiraz. The fruit is sourced from the warmer climate of Langhorne creek, in South Australia, south of the McLaren Vale region. Tim has still been able to apply his imprint on the wine and it is a very attractive drink indeed. Once the fruit was processed, Tim put the juice in new and old American and French barrels. At Tim’s invitation, I worked with him to produce a 300 case lot of wine, with my own imprint on it. I chose juice from mainly French barrels with just a hint of American. The wine is a rich purple red, quite deep and inky. The color pigments go all the way to the edge of the liquid. The aromas evident are a mix of the regional origin and the winemakers individual style. There are some earthy, sweet and spicy fruit characters which say Langhorne Creek. The fruit appears to be plums and raspberries. Over this is the winemakers choice of oak and this is the more delicate French variety with subtle vanilla that supports the fruit. Tasting the wine and the flavors come together dramatically . It is amazing how developed the wine is when on the bouquet it still shows the rawness of youth. The texture is both juicy and chewy. This is very much similar to the Rhone Valley, and no doubt shows the benefit of Tim Kirk¹s direction and personal preferences. The fruit flavor is still the same as what appeared on the bouquet, with plums almost appearing as plum pudding and this will develop further along these lines as the wine ages. Give the wine a short term in the cellar. You can drink it right away as it is so generous with fresh fruit and the appealing texture. If you can put some bottles in the cellar give them 4 to 6 years rest before opening. Although the wine is ready as a youngster it is not lightweight, so as far as a food partner is concerned you will still have to look for red meat with big flavors. Barbecued meats with smoky home-made spicy sauces will suit this wine. Or a roasted joint of Beef served with a horseradish flavored sauce will again be complemented by the wine.         How do I download Hi-Res Labels?

Varietal All Varietals Bordeaux Blends Cabernet Sauvignon Chardonnay Colombard Dessert Wine Grenache Grenache Mourvedre Shiraz Grenache Rose Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre Italian Varietals Marsanne Viognier Merlot Mourvedre Mourvedre Mourvedre Shiraz Grenache Muscadelle Muscat Other Pinot Grigio Pinot Gris Pinot Noir Port Riesling Rose Saignee Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Shiraz Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre Shiraz Mourvedre Grenache Shiraz Petit Sirah Shiraz Viognier Syrah Viognier Estate All Estates Aramis Vineyards Blackbilly Bowen Estate Clonakilla Coates Craiglee Elderton Fireblock Flinders Bay Frankland Estate Grosset Wines Heathcote II Hill of Content Mount Horrocks Primo Estate / Joseph Rocky Gully Rutherglen Estates Sir Paz Estate The Catcher Wines The Jumping Grape Wines The Old Faithful The Wishing Tree Tir na N'og Region All Regions Adelaide Hills Adelaide Plains Auburn Australian Capital Territory Barossa Ranges Barossa Valley Blewitt Springs Bowen Estate Canberra District Cardinia Hills Cardinia Ranges Central Victoria Clare Valley Clarendon Coonawarra Cowra Eden Valley Fleurieu Frankland Geelong Great Western Griffith Heathcote Hilltops Region Hunter Valley Kangarilla King Valley Langhorne Creek Lenswood Lower Hunter Valley Macedon Ranges Margaret River McLaren Vale Mornington Peninsula Mount Carmel Murrenbateman New South Wales Norton Summit Nuriootpa Old Garden Vineyard Padthaway Piccadilly Polish Hill River Riverina Rutherglen Sevenhills South Australia Sunbury Tanunda Upper Beaconsfield Victoria Watervale West Australia Western Australia Woodside Yarra Valley Keyword Include Museum Notes? Yes   No Show me more wines: of this vintage of this varietal by this estate from this region