I know last week, I rabbitted on (a lot!) about how excited we are at the moment.

Well, I’m afraid I’m going to do it again this week.

But this time I have something both exciting AND new! (why do I suddenly want to break out in song?!)

Before I tell you more about that though, let’s get a quick winery update from Rob (with photos thanks to Lucy)…

2023 Sauvignon Blanc

Our 2023 Sauvignon Blanc has lovely fresh tropical/peach aromas. The palate is very crisp but that acid will calm down a little once it’s been stabilised prior to bottling. It has delicate flavours and is very soft.

We’re on track to bottle this one in just a couple of weeks!

2022 Reserve Chardonnay

We’ve got a new Reserve Chardonnay heading your way soon! The 2022 version has so many levels. Very attractive classy oak aromas showed up first, then the citrus peel chard notes and behind that came buttery MLF (malolactic fermentation) notes. The palate reflects all that. Long, elegant and complex after such a long time on lees in barrel.

2022 Pinot Noir

The pinot has lovely colour and is perfectly clear and bright. It has lifted pinot aromas (dark cherry and plum) and subtle spicy oak. The palate is soft and full of flavour. Great wine!

There were one or two other interesting things Rob had a look at while he was there…

But I’m going to save those for another day (when they’re not so top secret!)!

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For now, let’s get back to that new (and exciting!) development I mentioned earlier.

Rob has been playing with a new wine!

And, as it turns out, he’s been doing more than playing.

In fact, we’ll be releasing this newbie to club members only later this year!

Introducing our…

2021 Somerled Lagrein

Now, I must admit, I had never heard of Lagrein before Rob surprised us with the news that he’d been toying with the idea of introducing one to our range. 

So, if you’re like me and don’t know much about this variety, let’s find out more…

Pronounced lah-GRAH’EEN, lah-GRINE or lah-GRI’NE.

(So basically you can pronounce it however you like!)

Lagrein is an ancient grape variety that finds its home in the sunny vineyards of the Alto Adige wine region in northeastern Italy.

Alto Adige is the Italian name for South Tyrol (Sudtirol in German), which was part of Austria until after World War I when it was handed over to Italy. It’s the bit right at the top of the boot in red…

Lagrein’s second home is Australia and is synonymous with Victoria’s Macedon Ranges.

It was first grown there in 1993, and the Cobaw Ridge winery has been consistently making Australia’s most notable example since its first commercial vintage in 1998.

The variety is also doing well here in the Adelaide Hills, on the Limestone Coast, and in McLaren Vale (which is where Rob has sourced ours from).

Lagrein has also been planted in the Riverland, but it doesn’t do as well as some of the Southern Italian varieties that are found there. In warmer areas, lagrein is often used as a blending component.

There isn’t much of it to speak of in other parts of the world. The Marlborough wine region in New Zealand grows some and you’ll also find it in California. 

And for those of you who know Rob (and his wines) you can probably guess which style he’s heading for! Especially considering the fruit is from the warmer climes of McLaren Vale.

What does it taste like?

Lagrein is one of Italy’s more fruit-intense red varieties. The flavour usually sits in the darker fruit spectrum with plummy and dark cherry/berry notes.

Lagrein wines are rarely rich or overtly sweet-fruited. They have intense but not overly drying tannins.

Before I go…

Something to make you smile!