Every now and then, Peter Lehmann releases a rare jewel from deep within the cellar. The King is a superb fortified wine of great distinction which has laid undisturbed in the bottle for many years under the Peter Lehmann Tanunda Cellars. Twelve years old upon release, The King is showing the benefits of extended bottle age. A rich and mature cepage of Shiraz with Touriga Nacional, grown to good Barossa vineyards, the King must be decanted carefully, as a vintage Port of this distinction will show some sediment and crust. A treasure of a wine.
Peter Lehmann maintains the tradition of reserving a few barrels of fortified from each vintage and cellaring the bottled contents to mature. A beautifully made wine which has developed a deep velvet appearance and luscious characters with a lift of spirit on the nose. Shiraz and Touriga Nacional are vinified on skins for three to four days, a neutral brandy spirit is then added to arrest fermentations. Following a further ten days maceration on skins, batches are pressed, clarified and aged twelve months in a selection of older oak barrels. Components are racked and assembled, bottled and held under the Peter Lehmann Tanunda cellars for maturation until ready to release. The King is a vegan friendly wine. Alcohol 19.0%
Deep mahogany colour, brick robes. Deeply complex bouquet showing hints of liquorice and black cherries, almond and festive cake. The palate shows wonderful richness, full of nutty complexity and fine fruited, without being cloyingly sweet. Whilst richly mouthfilling, The King shows a taut structure and finishes remarkably velvety, spicy and dry, as do all the great Ports of the world, an intensely regal wine.
