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PETER LEHMANN Barossa Valley, South Australia The eminent wine writer, James Halliday, wrote of Peter Lehmann: "It is not often that a person becomes a legend in his own lifetime." Peter Lehmann is indeed a legend in the Australian wine industry and he is known, with affection and respect, as the "Baron of the Barossa". Peter Lehmann’s story and the story behind Peter Lehmann Wines are inseparable. In the late 1970s a serious overproduction of grapes brought great hardship to the Barossa grape-growing community. As winemaker at Saltram, Peter Lehmann had been buying grapes from some of these growers since 1960. To accommodate the glut the multinational company, which then owned Saltram, ordered him to go back on his word to the growers that he would buy their crop. This he refused to do. They were mates and Peter Lehmann was not prepared to stand by and watch them go broke. Calling on friends and relations, Peter Lehmann put together a financial package to form a company outside Saltram. It was a big gamble and, with his tongue firmly in his cheek, Peter named this new company "Masterson" after Damon Runyon’s fictional gambler, Sky Masterson. Wine was made, buyers were found and the growers were saved from financial ruin. Two vintages were produced in this manner but, meanwhile, there was another change in the ownership of Saltram. If the growers’ livelihoods, and the vineyards, were to be protected in the long term, it was clear to Peter that he would have to strike out on his own. And strike Peter Lehmann did. He found investment partners, gathered around him a great team including Andrew Wigan (now Chief Winemaker), Mick Anderson (Engineer) and Leonie Lange (Winemaker) and built a modern winery on the outskirts of Tanunda in record time. All this was done in time for him to take the growers’ fruit for the 1980 vintage. Peter kept his word to his growers who supplied all the fruit to the winery. It was a partnership between the expert Barossa vignerons and a highly skilled winemaking team. |
James Halliday
"92 pts ... Bright colour; dark savoury fruit of mocha, blackberry and some mulberry is supported amply by well-handled toasty oak; the palate is also dark and thickly textured; a complex, well-constructed wine. Drink through 2018." --11/08 Winemaker's Notes
"The colour is beautiful dark cherry with a rich garnet rim. The nose is all deep chocolate, dark forest fruits with some spicy notes. The palate is richly opulent, beautifully structured with layered, fully integrated tannins supporting the depth of fruit. It is truly a “Royal” wine from a great red wine vintage year. It is a limited edition classical Barossa Shiraz from low-yielding vineyards." Technical Notes
"Fermented & macerated on skins for up to 2 weeks with some partial barrel fermentation. Following pressing and clarification, the wine was matured in French oak hogsheads for approximately 18 months. 14.5% alc." |
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James Halliday
"90 pts ... Fine and expressive cabernet bouquet; cassis and cedar, with a distinctly medium-bodied personality. Drink through 2014." --02/09 Stephen Tanzer
"90 pts ... Youthful purple color. Dark cherry, cassis, pipe tobacco and cola on the nose, with a subtle floral undertone. Fleshy dark fruit flavors are supported by gentle tannins, taking on a suave Asian spice quality with aeration. Finishes sweet and persistent, with the dark berry and tobacco qualities echoing. Very nicely balanced cabernet." --07/08 Winemaker's Notes
"Colour is deep with a dense centre. The nose has inviting aromas of classical Barossa Cabernet blackcurrant, hints of mint & cedar box. The palate has a defined Cabernet cassis flavour, a touch of chocolate & vanilla, and shows a superb integration of oak and fruit. " Technical Notes
"Fermented & macerated on skins for up to 2 weeks with some partial barrel fermentation. Following pressing and clarification, the wine was matured in French oak hogsheads for approximately 18 months. 14% alc." |
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Winemaker's Notes
"35% Shiraz/34% Cabernet Sauvignon/26% Merlot/5% Cabernet Franc. Dark plum, black forest fruits, and chocolate on the nose. A robust and full-bodied wine showing delicious velvet fruit on the palate. Always a food friendly wine, and ideal to share at a barbecue. 14.5% alc." |
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Winemaker's Notes
"A wine of great depth of colour reflecting the splendid 2008 red wine vintage. The bouquet has tantalising aromas of dark plums and black fruits with just a hint of oak in the background. It is a seamless wine with an excellent structure, its rich fruit reined in by firm tannins. A beautiful expression of Barossa Shiraz, it will continue to develop in the bottle for five plus years. This wine is a perfect accompaniment with steak, roast beef and lamb and excellent with pizza and meat based pasta dishes. It is delightful with aged cheddar or pecorino cheeses." Technical Notes
"Fruit was fermented on skins for seven days. Following pressing, clarification and blending, the wine was matured in French and American oak hogsheads for 12 months prior to bottling. Acid 6.53 g/L; p.H. 3.47 14.5% alc." |
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James Halliday
"90 pts ... Rich and ripe, with great depth and fruit weight; a little bit of heat comes through on the finish, and a lick of oak, but the fruit handles these elements with aplomb. Drink through 2015." -- 08/08 Wine Spectator
"88 pts ... Fine tannins frame a core of cedar, cocoa and dark berry flavors, lingering nicely on a medium-weight frame. Best from 2010 through 2014." Winemaker's Notes
"The colour is deep red with a dense black centre, and the nose gives tantalising aromas of chocolate, blackcurrants, with hints of nutmeg, cloves and star anise. It is a beautifully rich Cabernet with superb depth of seamless fruit. A supple wine, it is lively and inviting and finishes satisfyingly firm. A wonderful drop, indeed. " Technical Notes
"Fruit was fermented on skins for seven days. Following pressing, clarification and blending, the wine was matured in French and American oak hogsheads for 12 months prior to bottling. 14% alc." 14% alc. |
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James Halliday
"96 pts ... Bright colour; dark and tarry on the surface, the bouquet reveals a vibrant, pure and poised core of black fruit interlaced with well-handled oak; the palate is dense and chewy, but shows a deft hand of balance between the elements of fruit, tannin, acid and the slight savoury complexity; very long and quite tannic, time will treat this wine with kindness. Drink through 2025." -- 02/09 Wine Spectator
"93 pts ... Lithe in texture, with a bit of grip from the firm tannins around a pulsating core of eucalyptus-accented black cherry and dark plum flavors. The finish lingers effortlessly and begs for another sip. Best from 2010 through 2020." --10/08 Winemaker's Notes
"Dense black centre with a deep garnet rim. The nose shows lashings of dark plums and chocolate with hints of mint. A wine a great dignity, its structure is superbly taut, with intense depth of fruit reined in by the firm tannins. As befits a wine made in strictly limited quantities, this is a wine for posterity and may be cellared with confidence." Technical Notes
"Fermented & macerated on skins for up to 2 weeks with some partial barrel fermentation. After pressing & clarification, matured in 90% French and 10% American oak hogsheads for approx 18 months. 14.5% alc." |
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Winemaker's Notes
"Colour is glowing red brown. It has a bouquet of mixed spice, fragrant raisin fruit and an under- tone of rancio. The palate is intense and has a silky lusciousness with the delicious taste of raisins." Technical Notes
"Made from Muscat à Petits Grains Rouge (Red Frontignac) from three exceptionally old Barossa vineyards, one planted over 100 years ago.The traditional method is followed in the making of this wine. The juice is fortified whilst still on skins and after pressing is aged for some years in old oak barrels. " 500 ml/17.5% alc. |
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James Halliday
"92 pts ... Bright green-tinged colour; has flourished with two years bottle age, touches of honey and toast starting to appear on the foundation of citrus fruit; has further to go. Drink through 2013." -- 08/08 Winemaker's Notes
"A delicate pale straw with green tints, the nose is a fragrant mélange of lemon blossom, with notes of grapefruit and beeswax. The palate is lively, clean and zippy and beautifully refreshing. Simply a wonderful wine to sip, when a glass of wine seems a very good idea! " Technical Notes
"The fruit was picked early, crushed, chilled and the juice separated immediately from the skins to enhance delicacy. Following cold fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine was clarified and bottled. A must have white wine in the fridge for any occasion. Lightly chilled, Semillon is a delicious apéritif, and makes a perfect partner for seafood and chicken dishes and a delight with Caesar Salad! 12% alc." |