The Longhop wines are the result of a collaboration between Dominic Torzi of ‘Torzi Matthews’ fame and high-school mate Tim Freeland. I must admit, they’d not be on my radar before but they certainly are now. This a cracking release that defies the difficult conditions of the year in which it was birthed.
There are cooler mulchy, herbal characters at play but they’re balanced by generous black and bluberry fruit. Rich bitter chocolate with hints of brown and black spice. Once the acid settles down (and it doesn’t take long) it’s luxe and textural, so smooth and creamy. It’s easy to overlook a slight meatiness within this setting but that only adds to the character here. Stalky tannin on a slate-like finish with ample length. Bloody good drinking and inexpensive to boot. The sort of wine that makes my job easy. Very Good
Region: Mount Lofty Ranges
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $16
Tasted: July 2012