2018 Heartland Wines, “Stickleback Red”, 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.

The Stickleback Red is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Shiraz and 2% Lagrein and/or Dolcetto. It is rich and savoury with good structure and is a great food match. Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz give this wine a rich, savoury character and good structure. A splash of Lagrein and Dolcetto (two Northern Italian red grapes) contributes spice and tannin. The tightness and structure of the Lagrein, pulls the wine together and balances the sweeter spice.

This unique red blend always impresses with mouth-filling dark fruit flavours and tantalizing spice. Stickleback is dry, soft and full, with well-rounded tannins. It is easy to enjoy with a wide spectrum of dishes. 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 varieties: 74% Cabernet Sauvignon; 24% Shiraz and 2% Lagrein and Dolcetto

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