Description
Since its first vintage in 2001 Longview Vineyard has become one of the Adelaide Hills’ most awarded wine producers. Located just outside the historic township of Macclesfield, set on undulating slopes reminiscent of classic old world estates, this family owned single vineyard has a unique micro-climate suited to growing cool climate white and red varietals equally well.
Originally a dairy for most of the 20th century, Longview produces an exciting portfolio of wines, all of which are single-vineyard, estate-grown. A key factor in this award-winning range is the valley landscape, with red varietals cultivated on the northern slopes, where they ripen consistently, and white varietals grown on the southern side, where the cooler aspect helps the grapes maintain their acidity.
Longview is situated on the South Eastern Ridge of the Mt Lofty Ranges, and at its highest point (410m above sea level), a “long view” extends toward the Southern Ocean and Lake Alexandrina. This southern location results in a slightly higher-than-average temperature compared to the rest of the Adelaide Hills, while the altitude confirms it as a true cool-climate site. During the summer, warm days are followed by cool winds from the southern waters off Lake Alexandrina and the coast. As a result, these conditions create a very high diurnal range, which is specific to the site and contributes to a remarkable variety of flavour profiles in the grape berries.
Through Longview’s obsession with Nebbiolo and acclaimed winemaker Paul Hotker’s meticulous attention to detail, Longview’s Macclesfield Vineyard has again produced a stunning example of the “King of Wines.”
About this wine from the winemaker: “The 2023 vintage delivered a beautifully long, even ripening season in the Adelaide Hills, with a cooler Spring contributing to steady vine development and excellent canopy growth. Mild summer temperatures allowed for gradual flavour accumulation and impressive acid retention. Spicy aromatics, acidity and bright red berry fruits and finesse are the hallmarks of the vintage.
“The “king of grapes” in Italy has long been a passion at Longview. Longview first planted Nebbiolo in 1995 and is the leading Australian Nebbiolo winemaker. Hand harvested fruit from blocks NEB1, 3 and 10 were chosen for the Nebbiolo Saturnus. Clone 230 and Mudgee combine to make 85% of the blend, with 1-11 (15%) selected to add fragrance. Meticulous attention through the growing season and careful fruit selection with bunch and berry sorting ensures we capture fruit flavour with varietal distinction. Vinified using traditional techniques and left on skins for 12 weeks, the wine was pressed before maturation in seasoned French oak puncheons and 2500L Austrian Botti for 18 months.
100% Nebbiolo. 14% alc. Maraschino. Star Anise. Musk. Potpourri. Alpine Herbs. Blood Orange. Complex.”
Is this Australia’s finest expression of Nebbiolo ? Don’t miss this superb Nebbiolo!
95 points, Mike Bennie for Halliday Wine Companion “A tremendous expression of nebbiolo from now 30-year-old vines. This is distinctly lighter weight than some releases of Saturnus, but brings together innate delicacy of red fruit character, bright cherry, red plum and dry cranberry tang, with expressive swishes of bay leaf, green olive, fennel and licorice in tow. Sweet spices likewise adorn the wine, so too a kind of crushed-granite minerality. Tannins cinch things well, a little lighter than some years, but equally to the task of refreshment factor and shape. A finesse and understatement with this release.”
94 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front “Cherry, strawberry, mint and alpine herbs, almond paste, orange peel and spice. It’s medium bodied, crisp and red fruited, a juicy attack of cranberry acidity, a fine dusty grip to tannin, blood orange with an amaro twist on a lively finish of excellent length. There’s plenty of energy here, leaning more towards Valtellina in this cooler vintage, and that makes for a point of difference. It’s slightly raspy, yet characterful and good to drink. A fine expression of Nebbiolo that should age very well.”
RRP $60 Our Special Price $49.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.
