The inviting colour shows a purple core turning to a red rim. Intensity is shown on the nose with layers of dry herb, mint, and dark spice enveloped by black fruit. The dense blackcurrant character dominates the mouth, while pepper and sweet spices dance to the tune of a long finish.
Vintage
Lower than average crops were the result of a dry flowering season. Temperatures were unusually mild. Harvest began on the 6th of February, with our Shiraz being picked in early March. A long cool growing season led to excellent phenolic ripeness and intense color and an inviting brightness on the palate.
Winemaking
Age of vines: 25+ years
Maturation Vessel: French and American oak
Age of barrels: 1-3 years
Time in barrel: 12 months
Vinification
The fruit was crushed into 8 tonne open fermenters and left on skins to cold macerate for three days prior to fermentation. The wine underwent its malolactic transformation in oak, was then racked and returned to French and American oak for a 12-month maturation. Blending was completed just prior to bottling.
Specs
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Langhorne Creek, Australia
Soil: Sandy Loam
Alcohol:14.5%
8Winemaker: Ben Glaetzer
2020 Spice Trader Shiraz
Tasting Notes
The aromas are of fresh berries and plum jam. It opens up on the palate to reveal blackberry and raspberry and an array of soft spices that will remind you of Christmas or Thanksgiving.
The layers of flavour will surprise and delight. This is ready for enjoyment any time from release.
Vintage
Good ground cover formed from winter rains bolstered the vineyards through a warm and dry spring. Problem-free flowering led to perfect berry development and a stable vintage. Langhorne Creek had cool nights, and this meant a long growing season. We were still harvesting until mid-April. This vintage will be heralded as one of the best of the last 10 years.
Winemaking
Age of vines: 25+ years
Maturation: 12 months in second used French and American hogsheads
Vinification
Our Shiraz was de-stemmed, crushed, and pumped over twice a day for nine days. The wine matured for 12 months in oak prior to bottling.
The Heartland story began in the late 1990s when winemaker Ben Glaetzer became excited about the outstanding quality of fruit being grown in some of South Australia’s lesser-known regions, in particular Langhorne Creek.
Together with industry veterans, Scott Collett, Grant Tilbrook, and more recently Nick Keukenmeester, they grew Heartland into an award-winning winery.
“A really important point I want to get across is we’re not a group of investors that have got together and poured cash into it for the sake of doing it. We are at the coalface of it.”
Today Heartland sources all of its fruit exclusively from Langhorne Creek and makes only red wines.
What is it all for? The end result is all that matters. It is that moment when you open a bottle of Heartland and discover all those sensations we have strived to include. It is the moment when the aromas, the texture, and the flavours combine to fill your senses so you can taste it from where you are. Savoring the IT that we are all so passionate about.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Heartland Spice Trader Australian Mixed Reds
6 bottles for $59.99 $10/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $94.99 $7.92/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
Heartland Spice Trader Australian Mixed Reds - $25 = 20.83%
Wine Enthusiast on the Cabernet:
84 points. As per the name, this is a highly spicy, minty Cab with heady notes of cinnamon gum and black-cherry cordial. The palate shows similar flavors, but never finds the depth or power to integrate such bold flavors, resulting in the vinous equivalent of nana wearing too much perfume. — Christina Pickard 4/1/23
Sam Kim, Wine Orbit (?) chimes in on the Cab:
90 points. Upfront and attractively fruited with dark berry, floral, olive and mixed spice aromas, it’s juicy and rounded in the mouth displaying plump mouthfeel and smooth flow. Friendly and delightfully drinkable. At its best: now to 2027.
Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot (?) Cab as well:
91 points. This medium bodied cabernet displays lifted aromas of fruit cake and blackcurrant with a supple seamlessly structured palate. It also has a chalky mouth feel which contributes to its focused and angular palate feel. Sinewy tannins and a lick of oak provide further definition on the palate. Drink 2022 - 2027 10/24/22
Wine Orbit, the Shiraz:
90 points. It’s bright and beautifully fragrant on the nose showing dark cherry, plum, clove and floral aromas, leading to a supple palate that’s succulent and nicely flavorsome with a lingering smooth finish. At its best: now to 2027.
Ray Jordan again, the Shiraz:
91 points. This spicy perfumed young Shiraz made for current drinking is loaded with blackberry and black pepper with a soft tannin and subtle oak influence. It’s smooth, deliciously drinkable and right in the zone for value for money drinking. Drink 2022 - 2027 10/24/22
What’s better than one golden ticket? Two golden tickets! Dinner was Kirkland Signature’s finest Italian Sausage and Beef Lasagna. Being a big fan of Shiraz, I started with a blank palette and poured it first. Both wines were identical in color, a dark plum, and legs, which both coated the glasses when swirled and lingered. The first sniff of the Shiraz (and this isn’t terribly flattering) had a slight alcohol aroma that reminded me of college vodka. Once that faded a bit the aroma turned to blackberry, which shocked me when I later read the label on the bottle and read that as one of the aromas. I’m one of those people who never smells or tastes things they say “a hint of gravel with lens flare on the nose”. What does that even mean?!
The first sip was a bit dry, but not puckering. It had a smooth finish that didn’t burn. I didn’t really expect it to (I mean, it’s a Shiraz after all, not bottom shelf vodka); it holds up to stong foods really well.
But I’m getting ahead of myself, because I didn’t take a bite of food yet. A glass of water later, it was time to try the Cabernet Sauvignon. It smelled a bit floral, and like the Shiraz, was on the dry side without being puckering. I wouldn’t say either of these were high in tannins. There was a hint of cherry here. Both of the wines have a lot of complexity with the flavors in a good way.
As I started dinner both wines held up well to the lasagna. I guessed these to be $7-$8 bottles. Between you and me, I thought they tasted better mixed together, but by this point I was well into my meal, so the spice might be talking. I will give them another pour when I get home from work tonight.
@kaolis@klezman@markgm@rjquillin@Winedavid49 OK, got my case. Now we need to get WD to include some (cheeep) graduated cylinders in with the orders. Round 1. Only these two wines allowed in the blend. Round 2. These two, plus any others you want to throw in (I’m thinking maybe one of Clark’s Cab Francs?)
Apologies for the very late rattage. Between work emergencies and occasional sleep, it’s been a crazy week so far to put it lightly.
Not sure if there’s a couple hours left in this offering or another day, so I’ll keep it short and sweet. (Due to the aforementioned week, there were no pairings with these tastings.). Starting with the shiraz…
On the nose - mostly strawberry. Very nice. It didn’t let on to what was in store. First on the palate was blackberry. Then, there was a distinctive spice flavor, as the name implies. It tasted like chai spice. And pretty forward, too. It was quite surprising and made me think twice about giving it a thumbs up, and I do. Not your typical shiraz, but not bad. Just different.
The cab, on the other hand was very “normal”. Cherry, strawberry, nice level of tannin. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just ordinary. Very drinkable. At the case price, it’s a pretty good buy.
2020 Spice Trader Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting Notes
Vintage
Winemaking
Vinification
Specs
2020 Spice Trader Shiraz
Tasting Notes
Vintage
Winemaking
Vinification
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale on winery website, $228/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Jul 15 - Tuesday, Jul 16
Heartland Spice Trader Australian Mixed Reds
6 bottles for $59.99 $10/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $94.99 $7.92/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2020 Spice Trader Cabernet Sauvignon
2020 Spice Trader Shiraz
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
Heartland Spice Trader Australian Mixed Reds - $25 = 20.83%
Reviews you ask? Of course!
Wine Enthusiast on the Cabernet:
84 points. As per the name, this is a highly spicy, minty Cab with heady notes of cinnamon gum and black-cherry cordial. The palate shows similar flavors, but never finds the depth or power to integrate such bold flavors, resulting in the vinous equivalent of nana wearing too much perfume. — Christina Pickard 4/1/23
Sam Kim, Wine Orbit (?) chimes in on the Cab:
90 points. Upfront and attractively fruited with dark berry, floral, olive and mixed spice aromas, it’s juicy and rounded in the mouth displaying plump mouthfeel and smooth flow. Friendly and delightfully drinkable. At its best: now to 2027.
Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot (?) Cab as well:
91 points. This medium bodied cabernet displays lifted aromas of fruit cake and blackcurrant with a supple seamlessly structured palate. It also has a chalky mouth feel which contributes to its focused and angular palate feel. Sinewy tannins and a lick of oak provide further definition on the palate. Drink 2022 - 2027 10/24/22
Wine Orbit, the Shiraz:
90 points. It’s bright and beautifully fragrant on the nose showing dark cherry, plum, clove and floral aromas, leading to a supple palate that’s succulent and nicely flavorsome with a lingering smooth finish. At its best: now to 2027.
Ray Jordan again, the Shiraz:
91 points. This spicy perfumed young Shiraz made for current drinking is loaded with blackberry and black pepper with a soft tannin and subtle oak influence. It’s smooth, deliciously drinkable and right in the zone for value for money drinking. Drink 2022 - 2027 10/24/22
Wine Enthusiast, 85 points, no notes. The Shiraz.
fwiw
@kaolis Deliciously drinkable, delightfully drinkable – I’m detecting a theme here.
Wonder if there will be rats, and whether they, too, will find it drinkable (modified by a “d” adverb).
@InFrom Methinks WE was being generous if picking up nana’s perfume…
@InFrom @kaolis I like this line though: “vinous equivalent of nana wearing too much perfume”!
What’s better than one golden ticket? Two golden tickets! Dinner was Kirkland Signature’s finest Italian Sausage and Beef Lasagna. Being a big fan of Shiraz, I started with a blank palette and poured it first. Both wines were identical in color, a dark plum, and legs, which both coated the glasses when swirled and lingered. The first sniff of the Shiraz (and this isn’t terribly flattering) had a slight alcohol aroma that reminded me of college vodka. Once that faded a bit the aroma turned to blackberry, which shocked me when I later read the label on the bottle and read that as one of the aromas. I’m one of those people who never smells or tastes things they say “a hint of gravel with lens flare on the nose”. What does that even mean?!
The first sip was a bit dry, but not puckering. It had a smooth finish that didn’t burn. I didn’t really expect it to (I mean, it’s a Shiraz after all, not bottom shelf vodka); it holds up to stong foods really well.
But I’m getting ahead of myself, because I didn’t take a bite of food yet. A glass of water later, it was time to try the Cabernet Sauvignon. It smelled a bit floral, and like the Shiraz, was on the dry side without being puckering. I wouldn’t say either of these were high in tannins. There was a hint of cherry here. Both of the wines have a lot of complexity with the flavors in a good way.
As I started dinner both wines held up well to the lasagna. I guessed these to be $7-$8 bottles. Between you and me, I thought they tasted better mixed together, but by this point I was well into my meal, so the spice might be talking. I will give them another pour when I get home from work tonight.
@markgm Ha! We used to make our own blends a lot particularly in my wine shop days. Still do occasionally.
@kaolis @markgm OK folks - get out your graduated cylinders - time for a Casemates remote blending session. Let’s do it!
@kaolis @markgm @woopdedoo
Now that’s funny
@kaolis @markgm @woopdedoo
Let’s go. Found this in the Wine.woot archeological dig site. (My basement)
@kaolis @markgm @rjquillin @woopdedoo luv the classic rat report banner
@kaolis @markgm @rjquillin @woopdedoo That would be a fun offer for @WineDavid49 to sort out…
@kaolis @klezman @markgm @rjquillin @Winedavid49 OK, got my case. Now we need to get WD to include some (cheeep) graduated cylinders in with the orders. Round 1. Only these two wines allowed in the blend. Round 2. These two, plus any others you want to throw in (I’m thinking maybe one of Clark’s Cab Francs?)
Apologies for the very late rattage. Between work emergencies and occasional sleep, it’s been a crazy week so far to put it lightly.
Not sure if there’s a couple hours left in this offering or another day, so I’ll keep it short and sweet. (Due to the aforementioned week, there were no pairings with these tastings.). Starting with the shiraz…
On the nose - mostly strawberry. Very nice. It didn’t let on to what was in store. First on the palate was blackberry. Then, there was a distinctive spice flavor, as the name implies. It tasted like chai spice. And pretty forward, too. It was quite surprising and made me think twice about giving it a thumbs up, and I do. Not your typical shiraz, but not bad. Just different.
The cab, on the other hand was very “normal”. Cherry, strawberry, nice level of tannin. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just ordinary. Very drinkable. At the case price, it’s a pretty good buy.