January 28, 2004
Peter Lehmann Wines
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Australian wine growers were facing a dark
financial future due to overproduction and
low demand for their grapes. Lehmann
decided that making wine himself might be
the solution. So with the help of some
investment partners and other growers he
established a winery in 1979 and released
his first wines from the 1980 vintage.
Today the winery has the capacity to crush
up to 20,000 tons annually. The winery
sources grapes from 185 local
independent growers in addition to the
harvest from their own 175 acres which
produce about 3% of its requirements.
winemaker Ian Hongell
heart of Australia’s famous Barossa Valley, where winemaking has occurred
continuously since 1842.
The wide range of soils and micro-climates within the Barossa enable Peter
Lehmann Wines to produce an extraordinary range of premium wines - delicate
whites, elegant and rich, robust reds, botrytis-induced dessert wines. Lehmann
also produces sparkling and fortified wines.
In top years Lehmann may produce more than 30 different bottlings, some of which
are only sold at their Cellar Door tasting and sales room on the winery's grounds.
The Barossa is best known for its Shiraz and Grenache wines and Lehmann
produces numerous versions of these bottled on their own as well as blended.
Lehmann's Barossa Shiraz ($18) and Clancy's Red ($20) are outstanding examples
of Shiraz from the Barossa. The flavors are deep and long-lasting while the wines
show much better balance than many big Aussie reds. Likewise, the Grenache and
Cabernet wines typify the best qualities of those grapes in a truly Australian style.
its white wines. Whether you
prefer Riesling, Chardonnay
or Semillon, Lehmann
consistently produces rich,
fruit-forward wines of full
ripeness and concentration.
The Semillon is an enjoyable
version of a grape that is not
that widely available on its
own. Australian Rieslings
are quite different in style
from German Rieslings and
will please those consumers
looking for rounder flavors
and less acidity.
labels that adorn their wines. Left: The Shiraz
Queen by Toby Richardson. Right The Cabernet
Sauvignon Queen by Michelle Wheadon
start arriving in coming months beginning with the whites. 2003 was hotter and drier
than typical years in the Barossa. As a result, yields were down approximately 15%
from 2002. The area did get a large amount of rain in late February at the beginning
of the harvest. Winemaker Ian Hongell says that rain helped "freshen all varieties up
for the final stages of ripening."
Hongell says the whites "show good soft varietal character and real approachability."
"It is a little early to gauge the true quality of the reds," says Hongell.
And while the 2003 wines have yet to be released, the 2004 harvest will be starting in
just a few weeks. Hongell is optimistic. "Things look great in the vineyard. We are
having a mild summer and have not experienced any heat waves yet. But as the
locals say, there's a lot of weather between now and harvest and you haven't picked
your crop until you have weighed off the bridge."
Does it get any more Aussie than that?
