Langmeil The Freedom 1843 Shiraz

Description

Langmeil The Freedom 1843 Shiraz is made from grapes sourced from Langmeil’s original vineyard, the Freedom Vineyard, in the Barossa Valley, which was planted in 1843 and survives to this day. These are believed to be some of the oldest and rarest Shiraz vines in the world.

Langmeil, Founded by Christian Auricht

In 1838, Christian Auricht, a thirty-two year old blacksmith, arrived from Prussia with his wife and four children. Auricht and 12 other Lutheran families, who were escaping religious persecution and war in Prussia, settled in the new hamlet of Langmeil along the North Para River. He went on to build a forge, around which the village’s trading centre grew.

The Oldest Vines in the Barossa?

In 1843, Auricht planted a Shiraz vineyard. These vines are believed to be among the oldest Shiraz vines in existence in the Barossa Valley and are celebrated in this wine, the Langmeil The Freedom 1843 Shiraz, first released in 1999, which is crafted from these historic vines.

Langmeil Reopened in 1996

Auricht’s grandson, Arthur Hanisch, eventually sold the winery in 1969. Following a period where the winery was known as Paradale and then Bernkastel Wines in 1972. The cellar door was closed in 1993. It was reopened by long-term Barossa residents, the Lindner and Bitter families, who bought the property in 1996. The Lindner family bought Langmeil Winery outright in 2011. They have been immersed in the Barossa’s culture of farming, food, wine and community for six generations.

The Lindner family has undertaken a program of renovation, building and acquisition since their purchase, including acquiring the Pure Eden Shiraz vineyard in the Eden Valley, which is believed to be planted by Charles Angas in the 1890s. Langmeil also buy grapes from a valued network of family-owned grape growers through the Barossa.

Their winemaking process blends traditional methods, such as the use of open fermenters and basket presses, with modern techniques, ensuring vibrant, fruit-driven wines with subtle complexity; all characteristic of the Barossa terroir.

Langmeil The Freedom 1843 Shiraz

Langmeil The Freedom 1843 Shiraz has always been vinified separately from all their other Shiraz. The old, gnarled, low-yielding dry grown vines are situated on alluvial loam and red clay over limestone and ironstone soils. The roots descend over 15 metres into the soil and the yield is a tiny 10 hl/ha or two tonnes per acre.

Vinification

• 100% Shiraz grapes from Barossa Valley.
• Grapes are carefully hand-picked from a one-acre patch of ancient, proud and dry-grown vines (178 years old).
• Soils here are Dark, rich loam to red clay over ironstone and limestone.
• The grapes are destemmed.
• The juice undergoes a relatively cool fermentation in open tanks for 7 days.
• Twice daily pumping over before basket pressing.
• The wine is aged for 26 months in 46% new and 54% seasoned French oak hogsheads and barriques before blending and bottling.

Langton’s Classification: Outstanding

In May 2014, The Langmeil Freedom 1843 Shiraz joined the prestigious Langton’s Classification VI honour roll in the category of ‘Excellent’. In 2018, it was re-classified as “outstanding” in the VII honour roll. Available to buy now at Fareham Wine Cellar.