Langmeil Jackaman's Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

THE WINERY The Lindner family of Langmeil Winery has been immersed in the Barossa’s culture of farming, food, wine and community for six generations.  Their commitment to quality in all aspects is unwavering, and any wine that bears the Langmeil name represents the family’s pursuit of excellence in wine and community.  The family’s vision is to highlight the rare qualities of old vine Shiraz using hands-on winemaking techniques. Gentle destemming, open fermentation, basket pressing and two years' maturation in French oak barrels accentuate the natural fruit intensity and structure.   

WINEMAKER’S NOTES 2016 VINTAGE REPORT We are getting used to sampling earlier each year, and in 2016, for the first time, a parcel of Shiraz was nearly booked in for the end of January. Fortunately, timely rain and mild conditions delayed the start of vintage, allowing flavour and colour to catch up with sugar levels. With the dry winter and a slightly warmer spring, favourable flowering and fruit set, yields were generally little above average (except our Eden Valley vineyard which was hit by frost on 1 December, yes, December!). Followed by mild, late summer weather, both growers and winemakers were happy to see another solid vintage tucked away. By early March 70% of our harvest was complete and with another sprinkling of rain, vintage slowed, building flavour in the late-ripening varieties like Grenache and Mataro, as well as excellent results from our Eden Valley reds and whites. We finished harvest with our Eden Valley Cabernet Sauvignon on 15 April. This vintage highlights how tenacious and robust grape vines are, producing good yields and high quality in a dry season (but they cannot sustain dry conditions forever). Fortunately, a more normal winter this year with much-needed rain is refilling the soil and water resources. Bring it on!