Dandelion Vineyards
Lionheart of the Barossa Shiraz 2021
Barossa Valley
Lionheart Shiraz is aptly named after Barossa’s lifelong champion of old vines and Dandelion’s co-founder, Carl Lindner. These ancient, gnarled vines, many over a hundred years of age, are not only surviving but thriving on their own roots in some of the oldest soils on the planet. The ‘God’s Hill Vineyard’ is also well named as it sits at 1,400 feet in elevation overlooking the Barossa Valley to the west. In the first week of April whole bunches of Shiraz were hand harvested, then gently crushed and naturally fermented in open fermenters for eight days, hand plunged twice a day, before careful basket pressing into new (25%) and older French Oak Barriques to finish fermentation. After 18 months maturation and a racking in the same oak, the wine was bottled without filtration or fining, to capture the essence of Carl’s vines.
Vineyard
Lionheart Shiraz is aptly named after Barossa’s lifelong champion of old vines and Dandelion’s co-founder, Carl Lindner. These ancient, gnarled vines, many over a hundred years of age, are not only surviving but thriving on their own roots in some of the oldest soils on the planet. The ‘God’s Hill Vineyard’ is also well named as it sits at 1,400 feet in elevation overlooking the Barossa Valley to the west.
Winemaking
In the first week of April whole bunches of Shiraz were hand harvested, then gently crushed and naturally fermented in open fermenters for eight days, hand plunged twice a day, before careful basket pressing into new (25%) and older French Oak Barriques to finish fermentation. After 18 months maturation and a racking in the same oak, the wine was bottled without filtration or fining, to capture the essence of Carl’s vines.
Vintage
The Barossa Valley experienced mild conditions of generally below-average temperatures for the entire growing season.
Tasting Note
The nose has dark chocolate aromatics, with a subtle bouquet of soy, lavender, pink peppercorns, rosemary, and eucalyptus bark when it rains. The palate is plush with berry flavors, and flows with sweeping tannins as if taken by the tide.
UPC
934216000009
Color
Red
Appellation
Barossa Valley
Certifications
ORGANIC
Farming
Organic
Alcohol
14%
Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
Legacy of Australia
The ‘Legacy of Australia’ is vigneron and lifelong champion of old vines and fortified wines, Carl Lindner, whose family has been making this wine since 1944. The grapes are picked at optimum ripeness and left to dry in the sun, after which the they're fermented and added to a solera system.
Menagerie of the Barossa
At the end of Zar and Elena’s old vine garden path there is a historic ‘Menagerie’ of three grape varieties, with adjoining blocks of Grenache, Shiraz and Mataró. 70% Grenache, 25% Shiraz, 5% Mataró, Native fermentation, 100% whole-cluster in stainless steel, 12 months in seasoned French barriques
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