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Dandelion Vineyards

2022

‘Lionheart of the Barossa’

Shiraz   |   Barossa Valley - Australia
Shelf Talker Spec Sheet Wine Label Bottle Image

About

Lionheart Shiraz is aptly named after Barossa’s lifelong champion of old vines and Dandelion’s co-founder, Carl Lindner. This wine has always been about getting at the essence of old-school Barossa but with a new-wave edge (in other words, generous fruit meets great natural acidity, hands-off winemaking, and no fining or filtering). In 2022, the vineyard changed to the Kincora Vineyard on Seppeltsfield Road. The 2022 vintage was a tough one marked by challenging weather conditions, including the wettest winter since 1996, isolated frost, and severe hailstorms in spring and late summer. Still, the fruit that remained on the vine was exceptional, and cooler temps meant grapes could ripen well into fall.

In the first week of April whole bunches of Shiraz were hand harvested, then gently crushed and naturally fermented in open fermenters for seven days, hand plunged twice a day, before careful basket pressing into old French oak (30%) and stainless-steel tanks (70%). After 18 months of maturation, the wine was bottled without filtration or fining and just a small dosage of sulfur.

Stats

  • Grapes: 100% Shiraz
  • Vineyard: Kincora Vineyard
  • Vine Age: 35-years-old
  • Soil Type: Alluvial wash with grey loam over ironstone rich clay
  • Viticulture: Conventional
  • Fermentation: Native – crushed, 100% whole-cluster
  • Skin Contact: 7 days
  • Aging: 18 months in used French oak (30%) and stainless-steel (70%)
  • Alcohol: 14.5%
  • pH: 3.57
  • Total Acidity: 5.92 g/L
  • Total SO2: 128 ppm
  • Total Production: 12,000 cases
  • UPC: 9342160000096

Tasting Note

Intensely deep and vibrant violet-purple. Textured and grainy. The nose unfolds with dark chocolate aromatics, complemented by a delicate bouquet of soy, lavender, pink peppercorns, rosemary, and the earthy scent of rain-soaked eucalyptus bark. On the palate, it’s plush with ripe berry flavors, carried by sweeping, tide-like tannins.

Press & Reviews

Wine Enthusiast

91

"Classic Barossa Shiraz aromas of ripe blackcurrant, plum and blackberry fruit alongside pepper spice, licorice and black olive nuances commence. The fruit is plush and plump but there's succulence and refreshment here thanks to a good lick of acidity. Tannins take a back seat, making this an approachable wine now, but one that could age a few years, too."

- Christina Pickard
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Producer


Dandelion Vineyards

Region


Barossa Valley

Country


Australia

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