Leveret is the French term for a baby hare, which narrowly escapes being run over by the tractor from row to row.
Liebich Leveret Shiraz is a single vineyard 100% Shiraz for fans of Barossa reds. The fruit grows on 33 year old vines on the Liebich property in Rowland Flat in the eastern foothills of Rowland Flat, where heavier red brown black soils predominate.
Traditional techniques of hand plunging, basket-pressing and bottling without fining or filtration, all help to preserve the essence of fruit. All Liebich reds are vegan friendly due to no fining. Older vintages are very low in sulfites as any initial sulfur dioxide has been used up over extended time in bottle. Maturation for 24 months in seasoned American and French oak has delivered a complex wine with intense dark berries balanced superbly with spiced vanillin oak flavours.
This wine was bottled under screwcap to immortalise the magnificent flavours beyond the life span of cork. It will reward cellaring for at least 10 years. We recommend serving with any pizza or pasta dish and richly flavoured foods.
2018 Taste Notes: Deep burgundy red. Bouquet of ripe dark berries, cherries, dark chocolate and vanilla spice. Lush chocolate flavours coat the mouth like velvet with bold dark berry fruit length. A medium to full-bodied wine with subtle oak tannins, a silky smooth palate and excellent length.
The Darkie Old Vine Shiraz which is a wonderful example of a classic Barossa Shiraz, and is the jewel in the crown at Liebichwein even amongst the many fabulous table wines and fortified wines on offer. The Darkie is a single vineyard flagship wine dedicated to Ron’s uncle Clarence Walter Liebich (1920-1988) who himself loved a good Barossa shiraz and regularly encouraged Ron’s winemaking abilities. He also planted the old 40 acre block of Shiraz grapes back in 1969 from which we source all the fruit for winemaking.
But why the name? A Barossa Shiraz is red – so why is it called ‘The Darkie’? Well…
Clarence Walter ‘Darkie’ Liebich was the second of three sons to Benno Liebich, who founded Rovalley Wines in 1919 at Rowland Flat. Rovalley Wines, and then Liebichwein which came after it, were known for their range of table wines and fortified wine including many port style Tawnys. In 1941, oldest son Leslie Alwyn ‘Lofty’ Liebich took over winemaking duties, and was succeeded as chief winemaker in 1953 by Clarence, his brother. Clarence Walter Liebich (or ‘Darkie’, as he was locally known due to his full head of dark black hair) was always a big fan of local Barossa Shiraz and other rich, hearty reds, and enjoyed sharing his passions in winemaking with nephew Ron. When Ron established his own boutique winery, it was only natural to create a big bold Shiraz in honour of Uncle Darkie who had inspired him along the way – and so in 1996, the Darkie Shiraz was born.
Vineyard: A lot goes into making a high quality Barossa Shiraz. Initially the vines receive minimal attention and we allow nature to do the work. Dead arm affliction reduces yield but enhances flavour as does the use of hand-pruning and minimal irrigation. The vines grow on heavy black biscay soil at Rowland Flat on the eastern foothills of the Barossa. Vintages are very consistent in terms of quality and low yield averaging 2 tonne per acre, producing concentrated table wines and vintage fortified wine too.
Winemaking: Traditional techniques of hand plunging, basket-pressing with no fining or filtration were employed for fuller flavour. The Darkie is a unique Barossa shiraz that has been maturing for over five years in various aged American and French hogshead barrels, producing a multi-layered wine that showcases an enticingly rich nose, balanced intense flavours and subtle oak characters.
Taste Notes: The Darkie Shiraz nose typically exhibits black cherries, vanilla, chocolate with hints of sweet anise. A showcase of everything that makes Barossa shiraz so enjoyable, The Darkie Shiraz boasts amazingly complex concentrated flavours that fill the whole mouth, lingering long after the first sip. All this is perfectly balanced with the subtle oak maturation and super silky tannins. We recommend drinking at any age, but patiently cellaring for another 10-20 years will reward any wine connoisseur. Each vintage is unique and will have an initial impact that changes with each mouthful.
Vintage 2009 – a refined elegant wine with aromatic perfume, ripe plums, cherries and hints of savoury note like black olive, soft and complex
Vintage 2010 – exhibits more intense fruit characters balanced by the soft oak, dark brooding nose full of black cherries, chocolate mingled with sweet spiced vanilla
Vintage 2012 – a classic fruit-driven wine displaying ripe cherries, vanilla, chocolate and sweet spice with a seductively smooth, lingering finish
Out of all of the table wines and fortified wine on offer at Liebichwein, The Darkie Old Vine Shiraz is in a category of excellence all of its’ own. Special museum stock of back vintage bottles are currently available, but in strictly limited quantities. There are select vintages in 750mL and 1.5L magnum sizes. Some vintages were bottled under both cork and screwcap closures since vintage 2002 as that season was such good quality, Ron wanted to preserve the concentrated fruit intensity for decades to come.
Like any good Barossa shiraz, it sells out very soon after it becomes available – something Uncle Darkie would be glad to hear!
From time to time Ron has the opportunity to release?small quantities of?wine?from a single vineyard.
This premium Barossa Shiraz is produced from low yielding 45 year old vines. Maturation in old American oak for at least two years delivers a complex, flavoursome wine. All our reds are bottled unfiltered to capture the essence of the variety.
The wine?exhibits intense brooding berries, dark plum and pepper flavours. Excellent fruit length with a richly textured palate in complete harmony with the oak.
An ever popular wine in our cellar door range, it?has been released in vintage 2005, 2006, ?2010, 2011 and 2012.
Whenever these wines appear they quickly sell out, our dedicated mail order customers can’t get enough!
The 2012 vintage will be available from December 2017. Limited stock of 250 dozen.
Leveret is the term for a baby hare, which narrowly escapes being run over by the tractor from row to row.
A single vineyard Barossa Shiraz from the excellent 2012 vintage. Lovers of big Barossa Shiraz won?t be disappointed.
A classic full bodied black inky Barossa shiraz grown on 22 year old vines in the eastern foothills of Rowland Flat, where heavier red brown black soils predominate.
Traditional techniques of hand plunging, basket-pressing and bottling without fining or filtration, all help to preserve the essence of fruit. Maturation for 24 months in seasoned American and French oak has delivered a complex wine with intense dark berries balanced superbly with spiced vanillin oak flavours.
Enjoy now and for at least 10 years, particularly with red meats and richly flavoured foods. This wine?was bottled in screw cap to immortalise the magnificent flavours beyond the life span of cork.
Taste Notes: Black inky colour. Bouquet of bright red plums and vanilla spice. Full-bodied with excellent fruit length and textured palate.
