The Lofty Cabernet Sauvignon – Museum Release

The Lofty Cabernet Sauvignon square

Liebich Lofty Cabernet Sauvignon is wine of great quality and character dedicated to Ron’s father, “Lofty” (Lesley Alwyn) Liebich (1916-1953) who was a man with high ideals. Produced in special vintages since 1992 when the cellar door was established.

Single vineyard wine sourced from the old 40 acre block, planted by Clarence Walter “Darkie” Liebich in 1969. 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.

Special museum stock is released as it becomes available. The last vintage 2006 bottled under The Lofty label was a very good growing season resulting in an extremely low yield of 1 tonne per acre. Traditional techniques of hand plunging, basket-pressing with no fining or filtration were employed for fuller flavour.

A typical Liebichwein Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich and enticing wine exhibiting violet and spiced blackberry fruit nuances perfectly balanced with the subtle oak after maturation for over five years in various aged French oak barrels. Super concentrated flavours and ultra silky tannins. This style of Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon will always be good drinking and will reward patience with bottle maturation for at least 15-20 years.

Liebich The Lofty Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintages released: 2006, 2004, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1995, 1992

Purchase special museum release Vintage 2004 here.

Over 50 Years of Winemaking

Liebichwein Classic Frontignac | Ron Liebich

Ron Liebich is celebrating 53 years involved with Barossa vintages either as a vigneron, winemaker, cellar hand, champion grape treader and simply being a Barossa wine legend!

It was 1968 when he graduated from Roseworthy Agricultural College with his Oenology degree. Soon after he had the opportunity to take over from his Uncle “Darkie” Liebich in the winemaking duties and lab analyses at Rovalley Wines which was operated by the wider Liebich family. Since then he’s never looked back. Anyone who’s ever met Ron will know how passionate he is about wine and the local region.

Read more about the Liebich family timeline.

“Ron Liebich walks into Liebichwein’s  Cellar Door, wearing shorts, tee-shirt and trademark pair of snips clipped to his leather belt.

He’s somewhat chirpy today because this Rowland Flat winemaker/grapegrower has just completed his 54th vintage and he reckons it’s a good one too.

He’d know, his grape-stained hands reveal a lifetime of dedication to an industry that has been part of his bloodline for generations, since his grandfather, Benno Liebich started making wine in 1919.

When Ron speaks to The Barossa Mag, he’s just finished picking Muscat, the last grapes to ripen perfectly in his 12 hectares of vineyard planted with a fruit salad of different varieties.”

Read Barossa Mag article ‘A fortified love for wine’ published in June 2022.

Fortified Wine – Rare Releases

Barossa Fortified Wine Rare Bottles Trio Liebichwein

Fortified wines have a long history in the Liebich family. We are proud to continue the tradition of carefully ageing different varieties grown on our property. We grow Grenache, Semillon, Muscat, and Red Frontignac grapes especially to produce these styles.

Ron has been patiently curating family museum stocks, which have been maturing in barrel over many decades. There are barrels of all shapes and sizes that evolve and develop over time to reflect the glories of yesteryear. Ron was fortunate to have enough wine from three different varieties to qualify for being called “Rare” meaning an average blend age of 20 years or more. We are aligning our wine names with the fortified classification system as developed by Winemakers of Rutherglen. Australia has a long history of fortified winemaking. Learn more about it in this Wine Australia Fortified Wines

We’re thrilled to share these rare wines with you that have sat patiently for over 25 years. Every time you take a sip, think of the “angels share”, the wine that evaporates to the heavens during the ageing process⁠. These are sensational sipping for a special occasion.

They are available from Liebichwein cellar door and online. All bottles are filled into 200ml bottles that are specially printed with gold ink. They are labelled and sealed with a wax stamp by hand at the winery.  These rare indulgent wines are highly limited stocks.

Rare Muscat aged 25 years

Burnt toffee explodes on the syrupy palate and lingers long.

Rare Frontignac aged 25 years – Gold at Barossa Wine Show 2021

Honey and raisins explode on the syrupy palate and lingers long.

Rare Tawny aged 30 years

An exquisite aged Tawny style port capturing the essence of raisins and spices in a syrupy mouthful.

Purchase wines from the Liebich Wine Shop.

 

Recipe: Caramelised Onion, Fig, Rosemary and Wine Sauce

 

 

 

 

Caramelised Onion, Fig, Rosemary and Wine Sauce

This quick and versatile sauce is more like a savoury compote. Excellent condiment for using figs, especially when you have had enough of sweet fig-based desserts. Serve as a sauce with roast lamb, baked fish, on pizza bases or like a relish. It’s just as good made with a full-bodied red wine or Port style wine.

Prep 10 mins  Cook 25 mins

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil

500g brown onions, sliced thinly

1 cup fresh figs or 1 cup dried figs

1/4 cup wine (Liebichwein red wine or Tawny Port)

1 cup stock (chicken or vegetable)

1 tbsp Liebichwein Muscat Vinegar (balsamic vinegar can be substituted)

1 tbsp chopped rosemary or thyme (fresh or dried)

Salt & Pepper to taste

Method

Prepare sliced onions and cut figs into quarters if using fresh figs.

Heat olive oil in large frying pan. Add onions and sprinkle some salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden, about 20 minutes.

Stir in figs, wine, stock, vinegar and herbs. Increase heat to high and simmer until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.

Add salt and pepper taste.

Store in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 weeks. Alternatively, freeze in small portions until ready to use.

Enjoy!

FAQ’s Home Barrel Seasoning, Blending and Ageing

Blog post refill fortified wine bulk

FAQ’s Home Barrel Seasoning, Blending & Ageing

 

What is Tawny style Port wine?

Tawny style wine actually starts out like a Ruby or unwooded fortified, but then spends an extended period in oak barrels to soften and round out its character. As wooden staves allow oxygen to enter, this allows some of the wine to evaporate which concentrates flavours in the remaining wine. The slight gap of air at the top of the barrel increases the surface area exposed so the wine is basically slowly oxidising inside the barrel. The wine deepens in colour changing slowly from red-purple eventually to a dark amber or reddish-brown. The longer time in wood, the more complex the wine flavour profile and the smoother the wine becomes.

What do I fill a new barrel with?

Firstly, you need to know if the new keg is made from older red wine barrels or old fortified wood. Both keg types need initial warm to hot water treatment to lessen wood tannin impact on the new wine. The red wine oak barrel should have younger wine such as Ruby Grenache or Ron’s Blend to start with to help soak up the greater wood tannins, known as ‘seasoning’. An oak barrel previously used for fortified wine is best started with Ron’s Blend,as the barrel usually retains some wood tannins which will complement the fruit-foward wine.If wine remains a little woody, keep topping up with youthful Tawny, until the wine seems balanced with fruit and wood characters.

How often should I top up my barrel?

Top barrel according to usage; for infrequent use, it’s best to top with younger wine and if wine is poured frequently, a more mature Tawny such as Keg Blend is recommended. The barrel should not be emptied below 1/3 total volume. ?Note that a new barrel will absorb quite a bit of wine in the beginning.

How often should I taste my barrel wine?

Taste often, especially when using a new barrel as oak flavour can build up quickly in a wine. This will of course vary according to barrel size and cellar conditions (temperature and humidity) and whether the barrel wood was used for red wine or fortified wine. A smaller barrel will need more frequent tasting than a large barrel.

What is the typical lifespan of a barrel?

Well it depends on the purpose of the barrel. If you are looking to impart both flavours from the wood and structure in the form of tannins, a new oak barrel will continue to enhance wine for 4-5 years. After this the barrel becomes neutral and its main purpose becomes a storage vessel. The wine quality can still develop and improve as flavours will concentrate due to evaporation of some water content of the wine and also through exposure to oxygen. Generally, any barrel can last a lifetime and even generations if it never runs dry of good quality wine and is kept away from extreme heat, high humidity and sunlight.

How do I restore an old barrel?

A barrel that has been dry for some time and is loose is best taken to a Cooper to “knock up”, otherwise a handy person can use a hammer and blunt metal object to tighten the rings Then do a water treatment. A?second hand barrel with unknown history, it is wise to empty the barrel and start over again. Rinse out the barrel with hot water (1/10 volume of the barrel) at least twice so the top and bottom interior surfaces are covered and soaked for at least 30 minutes. Then fill with cold water and allow swelling for up to 3 days to check for any slow leaks. If barrel still leaks after 3 days then drain and refill. If any off-odours are present (e.g. vinegar, medicinal) the barrel can be rejuvenated by fermenting sugar and water in it, followed by a hot water rinse before filling with fortified wine. Check with a cooper or keg supplier if in doubt.

I’m moving house. How do I transport my barrel?

A barrel that will be empty for more than a few days needs some preparation to be stored correctly. Empty the wine into well-sealed containers (glass or plastic is fine). A little wine can remain in the bottom to keep the barrel from drying out. Wine barrels can be left empty for a week or so, even in warm temperatures, before drying out completely. To transport, the bung should be securely taped on.

How do I store an empty barrel for long periods?

Empty the wine into well-sealed containers (glass or plastic is fine). Rinse the barrel with hot water then drain it, and allow it to dry completely. To prevent any contamination, a dose of sulfur dioxide (SO2) is needed to protect the barrel. Firstly fill the barrel 2/3 with cold water. A storage solution can be made by adding 1 gram of citric acid and 2 grams of SO2 for very litre of barrel volume. Mix this solution in a separate container with a small quantity of hot water so that everything becomes completely dissolved into the liquid. Add the solution to the barrel, roll the barrel to mix, and top it up the rest of the way and insert the bung. You will need to top up the barrel with more of the holding solution every 4 – 6 weeks, but the barrel can be stored like this indefinitely.

An important safety consideration is that SO2 is fairly safe to handle but you should wear gloves and work in a well-ventilated area to avoid breathing its fumes when handling it. Note that SO2 can be purchased from any brew shop as Sodium or Potassium Metabisulphite.

My wine has a medicinal off-flavour. How can I fix it?

Commonly medicinal flavour can occur as a combination of wood character and fruit flavours from the wine. It can be blended out by keeping the barrel topped with younger fault-free wine and having a little patience.

My wine has a vinegar-like off-flavour. How can I fix it?

The wine is probably infected with acetobacter (vinegar bacteria) or wild yeasts. The vinegary off-flavours can be blended out by keeping the barrel topped with younger fault-free wine and having a little patience.

My wine has a mouldy/musty off-flavour. How can I fix it?

If a barrel or its contents has or develops a mouldy, mushroom-like taste or odour, then this is quite difficult to fix. It’s best to empty the barrel, sterilize and start again with fresh wine refill. A fermentation of sugar water is a good solution to rejuvenate a barrel with off-flavours.

My wine is thick and syrupy. How can I make it more drinkable?

If wine is thick, viscous and syrupy it is a sign of old age. It will need topping up with fresh young wine such as Ruby Grenache or Ron’s Blend to dilute aged oak flavours. There is no need to wait as adding younger wine will make it more drinkable straight away.

What does turn barrel mean?

This is done when treating a new barrel to season it. By using a few litres of wine you can season more surface area of the barrel. Every few days, turn the barrel a little on its cradle. This can be done over a period of two weeks. Check how the port tastes before deciding to empty the initial wine or keeping it with some woody flavours and topping up with fresh wine. Now for a little patience before having a nip.

Can you blend sweet/dry sherry in a port keg?

Yes, you would add dry sherry to make a drier wine blend. By adding a sweet sherry style (Apera), Semillon,Frontignac or Muscat you would end up with a sweeter blend. Blend according to your preferred taste.

Can you blend fortified wines of different ages in a port keg?

Yes, in fact we recommend it to build complexity of the wine. To help give a keg a dramatic lead on the road to complexity we sell very old wines we call ‘rancio’ premium aged fortifieds. Sold in 100mL wax-sealed bottles in four different varieties; Muscat, Frontignac, Semillon and Tawny (Grenache).

To order bulk or rare old fortified wines, head to our wine shop.