Lake Breeze – Shiraz ‘Bull Ant’, Langhorne Creek – 2021

PRODUCER NOTE:
Lake Breeze is located in Langhorne Creek, South Australia, where the Follett family has been farming grapes since the 1880s. The estate is situated on the banks of Lake Alexandrina and the vineyard benefits from the ‘lake breeze’. Winemaker Greg Follett was brought up on the farm but left to study winemaking at Roseworthy before heading to make wine in California and France. He returned to his roots and in 1987 started making wine exclusively from the best 30 per cent of his old vine fruit. He rapidly built an enviable reputation for consistently producing outstanding wines and Lake Breeze is now one of the most awarded boutique wineries in Australia and has recently been awarded the accolade of being Halliday’s Best Value Winery 2022.

VINEYARD:
The Langhorne Creek is situated south-east of Adelaide and is a premium viticultural region with cooling lake and ocean breezes. The average age of the Lake Breeze vines is 25 years, with youngest plantings taking place 12 years ago and the oldest vines having been planted 35 years ago. All of the vines are cultivated on their own rootstocks in soils that are generally alluvial sandy loam, with some parts over a clay base. This dry region, situated at the bottom of the Murray River, is irrigated by a weir floodgate system. The vineyards are surrounded by striking, historically important gum trees that still bear the holes that were once dug out by the Aboriginal Australians which were carved into canoes to sail up the river. The Bull Ant depicted on the label refers to the ants that were discovered in the vineyard when it was first planted, their propensity for biting encouraged swift work in the vineyard!

WINEMAKING:
Fruit selection was paramount, only the best blocks are retained for the Bull Ant label and often it is only the fruit from the best rows of these blocks. The grapes were fermented on their skins for seven days in small, open fermenters. A daily regime of three rack and returns and pumpovers, ensured the desired level of extraction. Matured in French and American oak for 16 months, with the aim of softening the wine, while retaining primary fruit characters. The wine was not fined or filtered prior to bottling.

TASTING NOTE:
A stunning, cool-climate Shiraz with alluring aromas of plums and chocolate enveloped in a touch of earthy complexity. Rich, full bodied and full of vibrant, black fruits on the palate with a long, soft finish.

GRAPE:
Shiraz 100%.

COUNTRY:
Australia

REGION:
South Australia

SUB-REGION:
Langhorne Creek