Honest and approachable, the Farmer’s Leap Shiraz is delicious, inky and densely packed with fruit - but there’s no trace of jamminess here. The structure is refined and the tannins serious, and the wine’s architecture far exceeds its price point. Padthaway shiraz for the win!
Twilight black with a faint purple rim. The structure is impressive with finesse and lithe tannic structure. Aromas of sweet plums and baking spices join with savory bacon notes. Fruit is youthful and charming, yet will continue to develop over the next several years. Peak drinking in 2019-2022.
Vintage and Winemaker Notes
In 1993 the first Shiraz, Chardonnay and Cabernet vines were planted in the rich soils of the Longbottom’s farm in Padthaway, South Australia.
At the heart of their viticulture vision is working with the land to produce the highest quality wines with minimal intervention. Much consideration is given to soil type, trellis design, vine clone and row orientation to optimize sunlight. The best wines are grown on terra-rossa soil – red clay sitting atop limestone. This world-renowned soil is optimal for wine production, and when combined with the elevated topography of the block, provides a perfect base for producing brilliant wines.
Specifications
Vintage: 2013
Varietal: 100% Shiraz
Appellation: Padthaway, Australia
Elaboration: Sourced from two Padthaway sites in close proximity; one with red clay over limestone providing richness and intensity, the other at the base of the hillside on a sandy loam soil also over limestone-which provides freshness and elegance to the wine. The fruit was fermented on skins for eight days before being pressed and transferred to barrel for 15 months maturation. A mix of 80% French and 20% American oak was used.
Alcohol: 14.5%
Included in the Box
6-bottles:
6x 2013 Farmer’s Leap Shiraz, Padthaway, Australia
Case:
12x 2013 Farmer’s Leap Shiraz, Padthaway, Australia
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $252/case MSRP
About The Winery
Owner: Scott Longbottom and Cheryl Merrett
Founded: 1993
Location: Padthaway, Australia
Farmers are no strangers to risk. But when you know your land and what makes it tick, such risks often reap great rewards.
When Scott Longbottom and Cheryl Merrett took the leap to plant vines on their Padthaway land in 1993, they applied the know-how handed down from three generations of farmers. This place is part of their DNA.
The reward? Much like Scott and Cheryl, the wines are honest and approachable, wines they are proud to put on the table and enjoy with their friends. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are all produced under the Farmer’s Leap and Random Shot labels.
Now at the end of a long day breeding livestock and harvesting onions, Scott and Cheryl can crack a bottle they’re happy to share and call their own.
They know you will either like them or love them – they’ve done their bit, the rest is up to you.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Happy to be selected to chime in with an opinion again!
The winery description is pretty in line with my own notes. Definitely a dark, inky shiraz, but don’t worry about it being a one note wine, especially for the affordable price here.
I did an initial PnP (this one has a screwcap I’ve never seen before) and was greeted with a heavy, dark, tannic wine that I wasn’t particularly in love with. I’m not typically attracted to heavier wines, and was worried about this one. Nice blackberries on the nose, but I felt the tannins were too prevalent on tasting.
Passed it through the vinturi, and what a change! I felt like some brilliant acidity came through, making this a very well rounded wine. Still got the dark berries, but a bit of plum / pomegranate came through as well, with cacao on the end with long, powerful tannins. Pretty complex for what I guessed would come in under 15.00 on the site.
I already had plans for dinner - started with some Stilton, and a main course of soy glazed salmon with sweet potatoes, shitakes, and a fennel salad. The wine was really fun with the salty cheese and glaze, they played with eachother and brought out more secondary flavors in one another. This would be fun to pair with a wide variety of foods.
In conclusion, this is definitely a big wine, but is smooth and complex. Fun to drink, and was fun to pair with dinner. If you are in need of something to pop open with dinner on a weeknight, this is a good contender. No negative aspects to report, and I bet a more experienced rat could pick up some better tasting notes - but I liked it, and it’s not in my typical wheelhouse.
Thanks for letting me taste!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2013 Farmer’s Leap Australian Shiraz - $20 = 12.49%
Got the notification that I was to be a lab rat on this wine after a snafu with one of my previous lab rat opportunities (nobodies fault).
Wine was picked up on Thursday from FedEx, spent limited time in truck and went straight into the cooler. Note our temps in Texas have been hot, but not unbearably so, so I expect limited effect.
First impressions of bottle:
Label is simple, not particularly exciting, something I would pass over if seen in a grocery store, where I would generally find lots of Australian Shiraz. 2013 vintage interests me a bit more, an older vintage Aussie, however I am very poorly versed on most international wines, including Aussie Shiraz - generally only drinking it in college or when a quick, inexpensive red purchase was needed. Closure is Stelvin, and is actually labeled/branded as Stelvin Lux, which I don’t generally see.
Right out of the cellar pop & pour:
This is inky dark. Like, don’t let the light through dark. Legs form very slowly and are thin. Alcohol content on the bottle is 14.5%, so it’s not low, but it’s not as high as I sometimes see out of the big California Syrahs.
Glass doesn’t yield many smells, some cherry and plum comes through, as well as a slight mintiness that I associated with eucalyptus. Maybe a touch of heat, but nothing significant.
On the tongue at cellar temp this wine doesn’t show much. I get almost no fruit forwardness with quite a bit of mid palate alcohol that lingers. However the finish gives some hints at how this might develop, with some dark fruit and hintings of cocoa and leather.
After letting a glass warm up to room temp over an hour or so the fruit comes forward, with a good balance of plum / dark fruit, with the alcohol burning off and being replaced with nice acidity that leaves your mouth dry. The finish disappears quickly though without a lot of complexity.
Will try this wine again this afternoon or evening if I can to see if it changes at all. I think the wine is good and would have no problem serving it to most people. If I was to buy this bottle in a grocery store I would expect to pay around $15 or so, so if the price point is anywhere below that it’s probably a good buy.
Summary: Enjoyable with enough complexity to keep it interesting. Not as deep and powerful as most Shiraz I have had in the past; prefer it as a food wine over sipper; wine changed over the three tasting phases. Could use a bit more fruit presence and a tad of acidity (though not flabby)Great QPR. We both pegged it at $20-$25 MSRP and $15 Casemates offer price would be a good value. She liked it.
Phase 1: small pour; deep/dark/black violet color that I usually associate with Petite Sirah; nice aromas of blueberry, nutmeg and all spice; taste of blueberries with medium tannins, and a short-medium finish. Poured into decanter while I went to go grill.
Phase 2 (30 minutes after opening): with turkey burgers and tots; paired excellent with food; the flavors did not clash and complemented the TBs; tasted a more pronounced wood taste (like licking a piece of lumber) that was non-obtrusive. Off to boys basketball practice and SWMBO to catechism parent meeting (why does the Church make it so difficult to be Catholic!)
Phase 3 (2 hours later): tasted on its own; Now I am getting raw meat along with the blueberries, dry brush, and a medium tannic (gripping) finish. Has definitely changed. Wife gets a bit of heat but it is not overpowering. Left 1/4 bottle on the counter overnight (RJ technique); will taste when I get home today to see how it has evolved/held up
Phase 4: (later today). Smelled the empty glass this morning (anyone else do this?) and got some tobacco leaves
Follow up from my previous tasting. Bottle was opened ~19 hrs ago but was re-capped and stored on counter.
Nose has opened up quite a bit. Lots of dark fruit, some vanilla & leather.
Great mouthfeel now, a bit of tannin still present on the mid and finish, no alcohol, rich dark fruit present throughout and a bit of maybe cedar / cigar on the finish. Much more enjoyable on the 2nd day.
Also should be noted that the bottle the night before was a '12 Wellington Kendall Cab Sauv that is drinking beautifully now and was fresh in the mind.
2013 Farmer’s Leap Shiraz, Padthaway, Australia
Tasting Notes
Honest and approachable, the Farmer’s Leap Shiraz is delicious, inky and densely packed with fruit - but there’s no trace of jamminess here. The structure is refined and the tannins serious, and the wine’s architecture far exceeds its price point. Padthaway shiraz for the win!
Twilight black with a faint purple rim. The structure is impressive with finesse and lithe tannic structure. Aromas of sweet plums and baking spices join with savory bacon notes. Fruit is youthful and charming, yet will continue to develop over the next several years. Peak drinking in 2019-2022.
Vintage and Winemaker Notes
In 1993 the first Shiraz, Chardonnay and Cabernet vines were planted in the rich soils of the Longbottom’s farm in Padthaway, South Australia.
At the heart of their viticulture vision is working with the land to produce the highest quality wines with minimal intervention. Much consideration is given to soil type, trellis design, vine clone and row orientation to optimize sunlight. The best wines are grown on terra-rossa soil – red clay sitting atop limestone. This world-renowned soil is optimal for wine production, and when combined with the elevated topography of the block, provides a perfect base for producing brilliant wines.
Specifications
Included in the Box
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $252/case MSRP
About The Winery
Owner: Scott Longbottom and Cheryl Merrett
Founded: 1993
Location: Padthaway, Australia
Farmers are no strangers to risk. But when you know your land and what makes it tick, such risks often reap great rewards.
When Scott Longbottom and Cheryl Merrett took the leap to plant vines on their Padthaway land in 1993, they applied the know-how handed down from three generations of farmers. This place is part of their DNA.
The reward? Much like Scott and Cheryl, the wines are honest and approachable, wines they are proud to put on the table and enjoy with their friends. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are all produced under the Farmer’s Leap and Random Shot labels.
Now at the end of a long day breeding livestock and harvesting onions, Scott and Cheryl can crack a bottle they’re happy to share and call their own.
They know you will either like them or love them – they’ve done their bit, the rest is up to you.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, October 10th - Monday, October 14th
Farmer’s Leap Australian Shiraz
6 bottles for $79.99 $13.33/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $139.99 $11.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2013 Farmer’s Leap Australian Shiraz
Happy to be selected to chime in with an opinion again!
The winery description is pretty in line with my own notes. Definitely a dark, inky shiraz, but don’t worry about it being a one note wine, especially for the affordable price here.
I did an initial PnP (this one has a screwcap I’ve never seen before) and was greeted with a heavy, dark, tannic wine that I wasn’t particularly in love with. I’m not typically attracted to heavier wines, and was worried about this one. Nice blackberries on the nose, but I felt the tannins were too prevalent on tasting.
Passed it through the vinturi, and what a change! I felt like some brilliant acidity came through, making this a very well rounded wine. Still got the dark berries, but a bit of plum / pomegranate came through as well, with cacao on the end with long, powerful tannins. Pretty complex for what I guessed would come in under 15.00 on the site.
I already had plans for dinner - started with some Stilton, and a main course of soy glazed salmon with sweet potatoes, shitakes, and a fennel salad. The wine was really fun with the salty cheese and glaze, they played with eachother and brought out more secondary flavors in one another. This would be fun to pair with a wide variety of foods.
In conclusion, this is definitely a big wine, but is smooth and complex. Fun to drink, and was fun to pair with dinner. If you are in need of something to pop open with dinner on a weeknight, this is a good contender. No negative aspects to report, and I bet a more experienced rat could pick up some better tasting notes - but I liked it, and it’s not in my typical wheelhouse.
Thanks for letting me taste!
@CruelMelody Pretty close notes to mine! I think I still associate tannins with alcohol for whatever reason.
Crikey - I’m in!! I think I just saw a ‘Joey’ go by, must have been a sign…
progressive-vanilla-pocket
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2013 Farmer’s Leap Australian Shiraz - $20 = 12.49%
Looks like a Bronze medal from none other than Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition. Who woulda thunk, was not aware of such.
https://www.wine-searcher.com/awards-8-hong+kong+international+wine+%26+spirit+competition
https://www.hkiwsc.com/
fyi and
fwiw
Lab Rat!
Follow up notes HERE
Got the notification that I was to be a lab rat on this wine after a snafu with one of my previous lab rat opportunities (nobodies fault).
Wine was picked up on Thursday from FedEx, spent limited time in truck and went straight into the cooler. Note our temps in Texas have been hot, but not unbearably so, so I expect limited effect.
First impressions of bottle:
Label is simple, not particularly exciting, something I would pass over if seen in a grocery store, where I would generally find lots of Australian Shiraz. 2013 vintage interests me a bit more, an older vintage Aussie, however I am very poorly versed on most international wines, including Aussie Shiraz - generally only drinking it in college or when a quick, inexpensive red purchase was needed. Closure is Stelvin, and is actually labeled/branded as Stelvin Lux, which I don’t generally see.
Right out of the cellar pop & pour:
This is inky dark. Like, don’t let the light through dark. Legs form very slowly and are thin. Alcohol content on the bottle is 14.5%, so it’s not low, but it’s not as high as I sometimes see out of the big California Syrahs.
Glass doesn’t yield many smells, some cherry and plum comes through, as well as a slight mintiness that I associated with eucalyptus. Maybe a touch of heat, but nothing significant.
On the tongue at cellar temp this wine doesn’t show much. I get almost no fruit forwardness with quite a bit of mid palate alcohol that lingers. However the finish gives some hints at how this might develop, with some dark fruit and hintings of cocoa and leather.
After letting a glass warm up to room temp over an hour or so the fruit comes forward, with a good balance of plum / dark fruit, with the alcohol burning off and being replaced with nice acidity that leaves your mouth dry. The finish disappears quickly though without a lot of complexity.
Will try this wine again this afternoon or evening if I can to see if it changes at all. I think the wine is good and would have no problem serving it to most people. If I was to buy this bottle in a grocery store I would expect to pay around $15 or so, so if the price point is anywhere below that it’s probably a good buy.
Labrat reporting for Duty!
Had this yesterday with SWMBO.
Summary: Enjoyable with enough complexity to keep it interesting. Not as deep and powerful as most Shiraz I have had in the past; prefer it as a food wine over sipper; wine changed over the three tasting phases. Could use a bit more fruit presence and a tad of acidity (though not flabby)Great QPR. We both pegged it at $20-$25 MSRP and $15 Casemates offer price would be a good value. She liked it.
Phase 1: small pour; deep/dark/black violet color that I usually associate with Petite Sirah; nice aromas of blueberry, nutmeg and all spice; taste of blueberries with medium tannins, and a short-medium finish. Poured into decanter while I went to go grill.
Phase 2 (30 minutes after opening): with turkey burgers and tots; paired excellent with food; the flavors did not clash and complemented the TBs; tasted a more pronounced wood taste (like licking a piece of lumber) that was non-obtrusive. Off to boys basketball practice and SWMBO to catechism parent meeting (why does the Church make it so difficult to be Catholic!)
Phase 3 (2 hours later): tasted on its own; Now I am getting raw meat along with the blueberries, dry brush, and a medium tannic (gripping) finish. Has definitely changed. Wife gets a bit of heat but it is not overpowering. Left 1/4 bottle on the counter overnight (RJ technique); will taste when I get home today to see how it has evolved/held up
Phase 4: (later today). Smelled the empty glass this morning (anyone else do this?) and got some tobacco leaves
Thanks WD and Arianna for the opportunity to rat!
@losthighwayz
Well done Jacinto.
Anything left for the follow up?
@rjquillin Yup! Around 5pm PT
@losthighwayz taps fingers…
@rjquillin lol.my mind thought I had posted a few hours earlier! Wine did not improve. Lost some fruit and became a bit bitter?
Initial report HERE
Follow up from my previous tasting. Bottle was opened ~19 hrs ago but was re-capped and stored on counter.
Nose has opened up quite a bit. Lots of dark fruit, some vanilla & leather.
Great mouthfeel now, a bit of tannin still present on the mid and finish, no alcohol, rich dark fruit present throughout and a bit of maybe cedar / cigar on the finish. Much more enjoyable on the 2nd day.
Also should be noted that the bottle the night before was a '12 Wellington Kendall Cab Sauv that is drinking beautifully now and was fresh in the mind.