Langmeil Orphan Bank Shiraz (750ml)

Orphan Bank is testament to Langmeil’s commitment to preserving old and rare Barossa vineyards. Ten rows of Shiraz planted pre-1860 were saved from the developer’s bulldozer and replanted alongside the original Langmeil vineyard on the banks of the North Para River. We called these ten rows the “Orphans”, but after 150 years they have a new home.

2023 VINTAGE REPORT

2023 saw a much later start to vintage due to higher-thanaverage winter rains followed by mild spring and summer temperatures. Above-average yields also added to the slow ripening time. The lovely, aromatic, balanced whites and elegant, structured, somewhat spicier, peppery reds reflect the mild conditions. The wet start to the growing season added disease pressure with downy mildew reducing the crop, and botrytis reared its head in late-ripening vineyards. Harvest finished in early May, and it was a struggle to fully ripen some of our Eden Valley reds. Overall, 2023 was a cooler and fresher vintage expression, and we missed out on some of our premium parcels of Eden Valley fruit. On the plus side, our dams in the Eden Valley are full for a change!

Colour: Medium to deep crimson with purple hues.

Aroma: A rich bouquet of red and blue fruits, clove and cedar, entwined with hints of violets, sweet spice, roasted and savoury notes.

Palate: Rich and juicy raspberry and Satsuma plum fill the mouth, with sweet spice adding to the complexity. The fruit is well balanced with hints of bramble and pepper and textural, fine-grained tannins on the lengthy finish. 

Cellaring: 2025-2040