The Liebich family host their fourth annual fortified festival where you can taste rare old ports that have been safe-guarded in barrels for over 40 years. Varieties include Muscat, Semillon, Frontignac and Grenache.
Fortified Fest 2009, Sunday 21 June in the LiebichWein Barrel Shed, Rowland Flat SA
Museum tastings held hourly from 12-4pm and a keg owner’s workshop at 2:30pm.
Port fans can also bring a sample to enter the prestigious “Best Home Blend†competition.
Rare Barossa fortifieds on show
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brigourmet
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- Location: Adelaide
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Mahmoud Ali
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It sounds like a lot of fun. Don't forget to post some of the highlights. I'm particularly keen to know what Vintage Ports are served. I believe there are only a few wineries now making Vintage Ports in Australia, Peter Lehmann's The King in the Barossa being an exception.
Otherwise it's what, Hardy's, Stanton & Killeen, and Reynella?
Cheers...........Mahmoud.
Otherwise it's what, Hardy's, Stanton & Killeen, and Reynella?
Cheers...........Mahmoud.
Mahmoud Ali wrote:It sounds like a lot of fun. Don't forget to post some of the highlights. I'm particularly keen to know what Vintage Ports are served. I believe there are only a few wineries now making Vintage Ports in Australia, Peter Lehmann's The King in the Barossa being an exception.
Otherwise it's what, Hardy's, Stanton & Killeen, and Reynella?
Cheers...........Mahmoud.
Reynella is dead because the idiots at Constellation can't make enough of a quid from it - on that basis you'd have to guess Hardy's VP is possibly an endangered species too...
Luckily the spirit of Reynella lives on in the VPs of a few smaller producers - Winter Creek and Duane Coates' are stellar examples. There are also others popping up in the Barossa that are also very good like Kabminye and Kalleske's JMK, as well as the more established names like Peter Lehmann The King, Liebich & Seppeltsfield, and of course d'Arenberg in McLaren Vale. The dedicated are still out there making a good job of them, the key is seeking them out...
Cheers,
Ian
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
Reynella is dead because the arse has well and truely fallen out of the fortified market pure and simple. Can't blame Constellation....as much as I hate them for dumping it. If anyone should purchase it it should be the SA Govt.
That said I'll definately be going along to the Liebich gig....sounds excellent. And I agree there are a lot of small producers making some great stuff...lots of stuff doesn't see the light of day either and is for 'personal consumption'.
That said I'll definately be going along to the Liebich gig....sounds excellent. And I agree there are a lot of small producers making some great stuff...lots of stuff doesn't see the light of day either and is for 'personal consumption'.
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brigourmet
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:49 pm
- Location: Adelaide
Here were some highlights...
This year's museum tasting focussed on very young vs old barrel samples for 4 grape varieties. Vintage port wasn't a feature, but they do produce a medal-winning 2004 Shiraz.
There was 2009 Semillon, Muscat, Frontignac and Ruby Grenache, sampled first to highlight the pure fruit characters without oak influence.
Semillon - light honey toffee
Muscat - intense orange blossom honey
Frontignac - candied tropical fruits
Grenache - rich raisins
Then each variety was sampled from rare Liebich barrels that are estimated to be over 25 years old. These were the real highlight, and depending on which variety/style you like everyone had a favourite - mine was the rancio Semillon which I could sip all night! It happens to be the winemaker's favourite too.
The wines are all made from fruit grown on the property and are used for blending the bulk and bottled ranges. Some of the older wines are for sale in small amounts which people like to add to their barrel for that magic 'instantly aged' taste.
Another highlight was the release of a 'Lost Barrel Port'. Apparently lost for a mere 25 years in an old shed on the property so that the original Ruby Grenache is now evaporated by half and is a volatile spicy syrupy drink. One of the most amazing ports I've tasted!
This year's museum tasting focussed on very young vs old barrel samples for 4 grape varieties. Vintage port wasn't a feature, but they do produce a medal-winning 2004 Shiraz.
There was 2009 Semillon, Muscat, Frontignac and Ruby Grenache, sampled first to highlight the pure fruit characters without oak influence.
Semillon - light honey toffee
Muscat - intense orange blossom honey
Frontignac - candied tropical fruits
Grenache - rich raisins
Then each variety was sampled from rare Liebich barrels that are estimated to be over 25 years old. These were the real highlight, and depending on which variety/style you like everyone had a favourite - mine was the rancio Semillon which I could sip all night! It happens to be the winemaker's favourite too.
The wines are all made from fruit grown on the property and are used for blending the bulk and bottled ranges. Some of the older wines are for sale in small amounts which people like to add to their barrel for that magic 'instantly aged' taste.
Another highlight was the release of a 'Lost Barrel Port'. Apparently lost for a mere 25 years in an old shed on the property so that the original Ruby Grenache is now evaporated by half and is a volatile spicy syrupy drink. One of the most amazing ports I've tasted!
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brigourmet
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:49 pm
- Location: Adelaide
Re: Rare Barossa fortifieds on show
It's on again....but with a different format being held over two days instead of one! I truly believe the number of fortified fans is on the rise which can only be a good thing.
Barossa Fortified Fest 2010
A warm and cosy dessert café for one weekend only to celebrate the Barossa tradition of ageing and blending fortified wines. Enjoy rare barrel tastings, home-made and gourmet pies and puddings, premium wines including new releases (watch out for fabulous Mataro Port!), live music and children's activities. Bookings advised, for a seat in the barrel shed.
Bring your home barrel sample to be judged by experts (entries close Sunday 18th July, minimum 150mL sample)
Free entry
LiebichWein Winery, Steingarten Road, Rowland Flat, South Australia
Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th July 2010, 11:00am to 4:00pm both days
Barossa Fortified Fest 2010
A warm and cosy dessert café for one weekend only to celebrate the Barossa tradition of ageing and blending fortified wines. Enjoy rare barrel tastings, home-made and gourmet pies and puddings, premium wines including new releases (watch out for fabulous Mataro Port!), live music and children's activities. Bookings advised, for a seat in the barrel shed.
Bring your home barrel sample to be judged by experts (entries close Sunday 18th July, minimum 150mL sample)
Free entry
LiebichWein Winery, Steingarten Road, Rowland Flat, South Australia
Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th July 2010, 11:00am to 4:00pm both days