2017 Heartland Wines, “Spice Trader” Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon, Langhorne Creek, South Australia, Australia

£11.95

6 in stock

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Description

Roving Sommelier is passionate about premium quality Australian regional wines. Heartland Wines are made by legendary Australian winegrower, Ben Glaetzer, who first came onto my wine radar around twenty years ago. Heartland Wines is a joint venture from industry veterans and lifelong mates Ben Glaetzer (of Glaetzer Wines fame) and Nick Keukenmeester (who was a former colleague of mine at Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge, London) in Langhorne Creek, South Australia. From its inception in 1999, Heartland’s ethos has been to create wines of balance, texture, and a distinctive Australian identity, with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.

Langhorne Creek’s exceptional terroir is the soul of Heartland. One of Australia’s oldest viticultural regions, the area is unique in South Australia due to its cool maritime climate and significant diurnal range. The resulting long growing season, along with ancient alluvial soils, makes it particularly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon. Many local growers have been cultivating the variety for generations, which explains the prevalence of old vines; Langhorne Creek boasts the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the world.

In addition to purchasing old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz from the region’s top growers, Heartland has also experimented successfully with plantings of Dolcetto and Lagrein, which make up a few of their unique blends. Sustainability is the cornerstone of Heartland’s approach to viticulture. they encourage plantings of indigenous trees, grasses and bushes, practice rational water management, and eschew chemical treatments in the vineyards. They even have a herd of goats to keep the weeds down. Heartland’s wines are made at Ben Glaetzer’s Barossa Vintners winery in Tanunda, Barossa. Completed in 1995, Barossa Vintners is a purpose-built, pioneering solar-powered and gravity-fed winery. Here Ben Glaetzer takes his characteristic minimum-intervention approach, with gentle handling and long, cool fermentations to guarantee freshness, elegance, and drinkability in the wines.

“Just as the spice traders of old, we risk all in search of exotic flavours. We join you in the hunt for elusive spices that fascinate our palates and capture our imaginations. This blend captures the plum, cherry and spice of the Shiraz and matches it with the blackcurrant and fine tannin structure of Cabernet. Wine should be an adventure. You may not see everything that goes into making this wine, but you can taste it from where you are.”

Best enjoyed at room temperature with flavoursome roasted and/or char-grilled meats and game dishes in a convivial atmosphere.

Alcohol: 14.5% abv (75cl)

Closure: Screwcap

Grape variety: 52% Shiraz 48% Cabernet Sauvignon

Flavour Profile: Clean, Fresh, Dry, Generous, Full-bodied, Aromatic, Black fruits, Spice, Well-structured, Savoury, Long finish.