Paul Carpenter’s love of Grenache was evident the first time I met him in 2011 and he’s already got runs on the board with Wirra Wirra’s The Absconder and Original Blend wines. Longline is his own small venture and damn this is an impressive debut. Sourced from two blocks planted in the 1950′s. A small parcel incorporating 20% whole bunches from Clarendon next to the undulating Hickinbotham vineyard (one of my favourite areas of the Vale for Grenache) with the rest taken off a block next to Chapel Hill. Both dry grown bush vines. The former has “lots of spice, not huge weight” and the latter contributes “power”.
Sensual gear. Medium-bodied and silky with terrific depth, steady acidity and admirable tannic grunt of the sandy kind. Great form and mouthfeel. Dark cherries over brambly characters, raspberries and hints of blue fruit. Rain on asphalt perfume. Has a strong, savoury earthen component and a little char grilled meat. Licorice and a smattering of dried herbs for further complexity. Liberal pepper and no real oak static. Minor warmth on the finish but you’d have to be sensitive for that to significantly detract from the experience. So fresh yet extremely vinous. Crazy value. Has the potential to improve in the cellar. 94
Region: McLaren Vale
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $26
Tasted: November 2013
Email: carps@longlinewines.com.au
Can’t find any contact details for Longline. Is there a site or number?
No website just yet but I do have an email address that I forget to put at the bottom of the note: carps@longlinewines.com.au Thanks for bringing that to my attention Tony.
I just think of Madeleine. Sexy…
Pretty sure that’s exactly the association Carps was hoping for
Mmmm. Delicious. I love GRENACHE
My picture embed did not work. Bugger.
http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2010-06-08-MadeleineA2.jpg
That’s the label for the 2013 sorted. Will sell like hotcakes.
Worked for Eileen Hardy.
Geez, they like putting her name on the bottle but it’s not as easy getting a picture of Eileen. I failed to find an appropriate link let alone embed it.
Reminds me though, I have to contact Accolade and try to stay up to date….
Email from Carps got trapped by an over active spam filter. Actual email address is carps@longlinewines.com.au Now fixed in the main note and in the comment above. Sound like there’s a website on the way. 2012 Adelaide Hills/McLaren Vale Shiraz very good too. Will get a note up tomorrow.