The Goodbye Wine
Wine is for sharing.
Wine is for caring.
Nothing says, ‘I’m sorry, I’m leaving you’ like a bottle of wine.
How poetic. Though the words aren’t ever spoken aloud, this wily winey gesture clearly says, ‘I know you’re going to be drinking your sorrows away in a few hours, may as well be drinking in style.’ How thoughtful. And fairly spot on.
Pushing the soap-story details of my life to the side for one moment, let’s get cracking on this wine: Langmeil Barossa Valley Floor 2009 Shiraz. I’m greeted by a beautiful label, all black and gold and oozing sophistication. The front of the bottle pays homage to the Barossa earth, (terroir) ‘…a highly prized strip of prime viticulture land which is the very foundation and forms the essence of this wine, a true taste of the Barossa…’ while the back label delves into the family history, and the winemaking techniques that have evolved over generations to produce this piquant bottle of Shiraz.
The grapes that make up this bottle are sourced from a variety of sub regions of the Barossa, taken from Shiraz vines both new and up to 120 years old. Deep purple, nearing black in colour, the 2009 Valley Floor delivers a richly layered mouthful of plum, blackberries, vanilla, with a subtle, ever so smokey finish. Quite easily consumed with a light meal or a hearty one. I’d also suggest snapping off few cheeky pieces of Lindt 85% Cocoa, between sips for dessert.
All thumbs up from me, the Valley Floor was the perfect drinking buddy, just when I needed one. :)
Visit the Langmeil website for detailed tasting notes on every vintage stretching back to 2001. Browse the wider collection of wines, and make a pit stop on the Cellaring page, which gives the winemaker’s recommendation on each wine & vintage year. A useful little tool if you’re a novice on cellaring like me.
As it so happens, this wine also fueled the creative thought behind the the artwork below.
As many other aspiring artists out there can surely attest to, it takes a certain kind of mise-en-scene, or atmosphere to give the mind the kick it needs; to leave the clutter of everyday thought behind, and cross into a world that is pure colour, line and shape. I find that candlelight, music on full volume, and red wine the best remedy for a brain struggling to remove itself from the silly worries of everyday life. Two or three glasses down and viola! You’ve produced some worth a little twinge of satisfaction :)
