REGION:
South Australia, 2011
VITICULTURE & WINEMAKING:
The grapes for this wine were sourced from Angove’s own Nanya vineyards and premium growers in the region. Soils are predominantly red sandy loam over limestone, on gently undulating east west ridges.
The 2011 Vintage was cool, drought breaking rains in spring lead to minimal requirement for irrigation, good crops being set and substantial canopies which would be needed to ripen the fruit to perfection. Longer than usual grape maturation resulted in a relatively late harvest starting in February.
Picked late at night to harvest the grapes as cold as possible the grapes were transported to the winery and pressed using modern membrane tank presses. After cold settling the clear juice was carefully racked to cooled fermentation tanks and inoculated with selected yeasts. Cool fermentation was followed by minimal handling filtration and bottling at the Angove’s winery.
WINEMAKERS’ NOTES:
Medium straw with brilliant pale gold hues are highlighted in the glass. Aromas of stone fruit, ripe melons and a hint of toasty oak swirl around in a hedonistic display and precede a palate with abundant ripe tropical fruits, some nutty and toasty characters and a long soft finish.
TECHNICAL:
Varieties: Chardonnay
Alcohol: 13.0% alc/vol
Total Acidity: 6.0 gms/l
Residual Sugar: 0.7 gms/l
James Halliday Aust. Wine Companion 2012 Edition - 90 Points - 4.5 Stars
“Over-supply of chardonnay in 2009 has resulted in some premium grapes from cooler regions finding their way into this elegant wine, with its dominant display of fresh stone fruit from cool fermentation in stainless steel and French oak for 23% of the wine, followed by early bottling. Commendably, it has been fermented dry and has good acidity.”
E-Vine - February 2011 - "Good Drinking"
“New season apricots, fresh cream and a hint of oak on the nose. Softer style showing ripe stone fruits supported by well-seasoned barrel toastiness. Great value.”
Weekend Australian - James Halliday - 15.1.11 - 90 Points
“Over many years, the Long Row range of wines has had a habit of over-delivering across a spread of different varieties reflecting differing vintage conditions throughout South Australia. Over-supply of chardonnay in 2009 has resulted in some premium grapes from cooler regions finding their way into this elegant wine, with its dominant display of fresh stone fruit from cool fermentation in stainless steel and French Oak for 23% of the wine; followed by early bottling. Commendably, it has been fermented dry and has good acidity.”
Daily Telegraph - Jeff Collerson - 18.09.10
“Long Row is on of our most reliable budget labels and this new release doesn’t disappoint. This has a restrained creamy butterscotch aroma with soft ripe peach/melon fruit on the palate.”
E-Vine - August 2010 - 2 Stars
“New season apricots, fresh cream and a hint of oak on the nose. Softer style showing ripe stone fruits supported by well-seasoned barrel toastiness. Great value.”
The Age - Epicure - 03.08.10
The Age - Epicure - 03.08.10
“Yer gets what yer pays for, but there are still some drops that offer varietal charm. From the Riverland, this young wine has melony varietal character, a thread of oak, a smooth, creamy textured palate and good balance. It’s fresh, simple and really no more than a quaffer - but it’s a good one.”
Toronto Star - August 2010 - 88 Points
"Shows lively buttery baked apple and hazelnut nuances from South Australia"
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion - 2011 Edition - 4 Stars 87 Points
“Over a year in a bottle hasn’t hurt it, but don’t delay, as it’s at the peak of development of secondary flavours.”
Mount Barker Courier - 28.07.10
“A rich mix of white peach and ripe melon flavours and was a pleasant drink to wash down barbecued Coorong mullet.”
Quaff 2010 - Peter Forrestal
The Best Wines in Australia Under $15 - Good
"There are heaps of lime, citrus and cedary oak flavours in this Riverland chardonnay and bold natural acidity to cleanse the palate.'
Herald Sun -23.5.09 - Page 11 - Paddy Kendler
"......but the Angove is a delight at such a modest price. It's much more interesting than the average cheap chardy and features plenty of ripe fruit enhanced by some toasty, nutty oak. Peaking right now. Unbeatable value."
Wine Kingdom Japan - Issue 49 - FIVE STAR REVIEW
A full bodied Chardonnay with flavours of vanilla, pineapple, apple compote and pear.
Chris Shanahan - Sunday Canberra Times - 29.03.09
The tasty benefits of cross-regional blending show in Angove's budget-price Long Row chardonnay. By combining cheaper, less flavoursome grapes with more intensely flavoured material from areas like Wrattonbully, Padthaway and Mount Benson, the makers strike the correct value to quality ratio. It's a rich, crisp and lively wine with unmistakable melon-peach-chardonnay flavour and a touch of oak. Drink up now as it'll lose its vibrant edge with age.
Adelaide Advertiser - Tony Love - 18.02.09 - 91 Points
Collecting fruit not only from Angove's Nanya vineyard in the Riverland but also several Limestone Coast sources puts a decent level of complexity into this cheapie with toasted nuts and creams along with typical yellow stone fruits for a pretty good show at the price.
Launceston Examiner - Mike Burnett - page 22 - 7.01.09
This label, based at Renmark in South Australia's Riverland, has been providing top drinking in this price bracket for decades and these two wines indicate that position has not changed. The 2007 Long Row Chardonnay also goes beyond expectations. It has citrus and peach fruit flavours that run through the palate to a more than adequate finish. The wines are great for parties and as a low-cost choice for mass gatherings or in restaurants. Expect to find both on "best value" lists.
Sunday Tasmanian - Graeme Phillips - Page 17 - 4.1.09
A big but simple hit of tropical fruits and minerally gunpowder flavours driven by oak, nothing subt'e but balanced, thankfully dry and good, flavoursorne value. 13.5 per cent alcohol.
Paddy Kendler's Top 20 Brands Guaranteed To Deliver On Taste - Herald Sun - 30.12.08 - Page 27 - LONG ROW RANGE
Angove's offers the dependable budget brand Butterfly Ridge, as well as the Nine Vines and Vineyard Select ranges, but Long Row is my pick of the pack. Chardonnay and sauvignon blanc are invariably huge value and shiraz and cabernet sauvignon over-deliver on quality at a modest price.
Herald Sun - Paddy Kendler - 25.11.08
5 STAR REVIEW
As is the case with all the members of the Long Row range, the latest chardonnay is truly remarkable value. The overall fruit flavour is distinctly varietal in the peach and melon mode while a deft infusion of oak adds interest and gentle acidity providing a refreshing note of balance.
The West Australian - Best Whites Under $15 - 20.11.08
Beautifully round and soft chardonnay designed as an immediate drinking food wine. Creamy nutty flavours with some tropical stone fruit characters spruced up with a splash of citrus.
Winestate River Regions & Riverina Tasting - Sept/Oct 2008
Powerful melon lift to the brown lime nose, and a toasty oak palate with honeyed melon fruit underneath.
Features in Top 25 Killer Values - Ranked #13 - Up! Magazine - November 07
Jeremy Oliver - The Australian Wine Annual 2008
Long Row Range named in Top 10 Bargain Wines
In his comments Jeremy noted " One of Australia's largest family owned wine producers, Angove's, is also emerging as one of our quiet achievers. I am particularly impressed with its winemaking attitude, which is to attempt to create the most elegant and balanced wine possible, regardless of the ultimate price of the finished product. The results are seen in the freshness and perhaps unexpected finesse of the Vineyard Select range, as well as the sheer value for money found under the Long Row label."
REGION:
South Australia, 2010
VITICULTURE & WINEMAKING:
The grapes for this wine were sourced from selected vineyards across South Australia, careful blending of the different regions achieves a wine of depth and complexity.
Harvest in 2010 was almost perfect; after a long wait some water returned to the Murray Darling system, the life blood of Australia’s inland regions, and growers were able to irrigate sensibly. The weather was consistent with sunny days and cool nights, except for a short heat spell in early November which stressed vines whilst flowers were setting. A subsequent smaller than normal yield resulted, which in turn meant more intense flavour. Harvest began early and the flavours ripened quickly allowing us to harvest the white grapes at optimum ripeness, keeping the fruit for this wine vibrant and fresh. Drink in memory of the long warm nights of a balmy Australian summer.
Picked late at night to harvest the grapes as cold as possible the grapes were transported to the winery and pressed using modern membrane tank presses. After cold settling the clear juice was carefully racked to cooled fermentation tanks and inoculated with selected yeasts. Cool fermentation was followed by minimal handling, filtration and bottling at the Angove Family winery.
WINEMAKERS’ NOTES:
Medium straw with brilliant pale gold hues are highlighted in the glass. Aromas of stone fruit, ripe melons and toasty oak swirl around in a hedonistic display and precede a palate with abundant ripe tropical fruits, some nutty and toasty characters and a long soft finish.
TECHNICAL:
Varieties: Chardonnay
Alcohol: 13.0% alc/vol
Total Acidity: 5.8 gms/l
Residual Sugar: 1.5 gms/l