Langhorne Crossing Red Wine 2005

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Varietal: 48% Shiraz, 37% Cabernet, 15% Petit Verdot
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia
Sub-Region: Langhorne Creek

IWC

Situated 80 km southeast of Adelaide in South Australia along the banks of the Bremer river is one of Australia's more important yet less known viticultural regions. Many a consumer has tried a bottle of wine that was produced from grapes grown in the Langhorne Creek area without even realizing it. The area has been a source of juice for many large-scale producers who use the region's soft and fruity wines as a base for their commercial wines. The vineyards of Langhorne Creek consist of approximately 2,000 hectares planted on the naturally flooded plains on either side of the River Bremer and now in the surrounding area.

On the floodplain a system of floodgates, banks and ditches helps regulate the inundation of the vineyards several times during the winter supplementing the low natural rainfall. The Shiraz and Cabernet for which the area is renowned grow especially well on these rich alluvial soils. The cooling breezes from nearby Lake Alexandrina temper the hot summer weather giving a cool-climate effect in this premium area. More recently the area under vines has more than tripled from the original 600 hectares as water has been brought from the lake, enabling large plantings off the floodplain. Red grapes still predominate as the area's qualities are realized. The region is a predominantly red wine area. The mild climate helps produce grapes that are extremely fruity, soft and fragrant with some gentle minty overtones, but very rarely herbaceous and never tannic. The regional hallmark is soft-textured with a wonderful expression of varietal character almost always in the red berry spectrum.

Reviews:
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"Dark ruby-colored, it offers up a fragrant red and blue fruit nose followed by a ripe, supple-textured wine with surprising depth for its humble price. The wine offers some complexity as well as very good concentration and length. This terrific value is one to buy by the case for everyday drinking over the next 2-3 years." -Rated 89, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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"Dark red. Smoky blackberry and plum aromas complicated by bacon, licorice and a dusting of cracked pepper. Energetic dark berry flavors are brightened by firm minerality and framed by fine-grained tannins. Finishes with very good lift and lingering sweetness. This is an outstanding value." -Rated 88, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

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