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William James Maxwell was an architectural sculptor who migrated from Scotland to Australia in 1875. He built a mock castle and established a family vineyard just outside Adelaide, which he named Woodlands Park. His son planted vines in nearby McLaren Vale and his grandson served a term as winemaker for Hardy Wines at the historic Tintara wineworks. William Maxwell's progeny remain in McLaren Vale, producing the southern hemisphere's most successful brands of Honey Mead, as well as vintages of the most extraordinary value in McLaren Vale Shiraz. But what does Maxwell taste like? Gentleman James Halliday describes Maxwell as robust, picking the eyes out of McLaren Vale shiraz; licorice, dark chocolate, savoury firm, ripe tannins, blackberry, positive oak the icing on the cake. Terrific value. Oh yes, he suggests that it should be enjoyed by.. Made of mature vine mclaren vale »
Returning to his home along the Nagambie Lakes after the completion of service during World War II, Eric Purbrick discovered a cache of wine, hidden circa 1876 under the family estate cellars. Though pale in colour, it was sound and drinkable after seven decades. The promise of long lived red wine inspired Purbrick to establish new plantings at Chateau Tahbilk in 1949, today they are some of Victoria's oldest productive Cabernet Sauvignon vines. Having barely scraped through the ravages of phyloxera and a period of disrepute, the fortunes of Tahbilk were turned around by Purbrick who was the first to market Australian wine under its varietal name. Tahbilk proudly hosts the largest, single holding of Marsanne on the planet. Tahbilk's original rows of Shiraz are commonly cited as one of the great vineyards of the world, regularly sampled at international competitions against illustrious icons such as Romanee Conti and Chateau Lafite, Vega Sicilia and Chateau.. Phyloxera, ancient cellars & seriously old vines»

Old Plains Longhop Cabernet Sauvignon CONFIRM VINTAGE

Cabernet Sauvignon Adelaide Plains South Australia
Two Gawler high school mates mooted the idea of making Adelaide wine. Vineyards were surveyed, the major requirement being that old vines were essential. They fortuitously secured for themselves supply from some precious old sites which had survived the pullout schemes of the 1980s. Grapes are picked off old to very old vines, grown in auspicious sandy loams, nestled amongst the river red gums of Mt Lofty. Components are cannily assembled to achieve a unique construct of the established Cabernet Sauvignon style.
Available by the dozen
Case of 12
$251.00
Great wine begins on the land, the source Adelaide Plains vineyards are all special, remnant plantings which have survived urban expansion and the pursuit of more lucrative agriculture. The small band of Longhop's growers have embraced the ideal of delivering premium grapes in order to showcase the power and rich fruit flavours that the Adelaide region has to offer. Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from old, low cropping and descendant vines. Whole berries are vinified and hand plunged in traditional open top fermenters before a gentle basket press into barrel for completion. The finished wine is matured in a selection of seasoned French and American oak barriques for a year before bottling without filtration.
Deeply coloured, garnet hue. Immediatly recognisable as Cabernet, blackcurrants and mulberry, distinctive earth and spice, lively cocoa, violets and black cherry notes. Well layered with rich currant and bramble flavours, `swooning across the palate, extended tannins draw out the long and savoury lip smacking, gum sucking finish.
$10 To $19 Reds Adelaide Hills
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Old Plains
The challenge began when it was decided to fashion hand made wines from precious fruit grown to superlative sites which escaped the vine pull of the 1980s

The Longhop and Old Plains range of wines are produced by Domenic Torzi and Tim Freeland. The former Gawler high school mates first mooted the idea of making icon wines from the Adelaide Plains in 2002. Vineyards were secured, the requirement being old vines a priority. The small band of growers have embraced the ideal of delivering premium grapes in order to showcase the power and rich fruit flavours the Adelaide Plains has to offer.

Old Plains

Great wine begins in the vineyard and for Old Plains and Longhop nothing is more important. The source vineyards are all unique, remnant plantings that have survived urban expansion and the pursuit of other agricultural profits. They also escaped the vine pull schemes that were popular during the 1980s.

These government sponsored schemes saw old, low yielding vines uprooted with the help of subsidies and replaced by cash crops of vegetables and wheat. In some instances vast tracts of old vine shiraz was replaced by chardonnay! What a waste. The remaing small vineyards are true masterpieces of wine grape flavour, weathered, gnarly and magnificent in their defiance of commercial expansion.

The American importer of Old Plains and Longhop wines, Vine Street Imports hosted their first ever range tasting at Philadelphia in 2008. With 20 plus Australian and New Zealand winemakers in attendance, Vine Street sent out invites across the US states to distributors, retailers and trade punters. With approx 120 wines on offer and approx 400 attendees on the day, they were treated to possibly the most diverse wines ever shown in USA. Old Plains launched Raw Power Shiraz with great success, described as the wine of the tasting for delivering value for money, quality and a sharp marketing edge. American consumers have since embraced Raw Power for its sheer quality.

Old Plains

Old Plains