Wine
Five Generations of Lange Estate
Cultivated and farmed by five generations, the Lange Family produce premium cool climate wines...
The Lange family have been cultivating and farming Lange Estate in rural Western Australia for five generations. The tradition continues in Frankland River with the Lange’s vineyard, established in 1997 and run by the family, including Kim and Chelsea, their children Jack, Ella and Dylan together with Don and Maxine.
The vineyard is situated in the picturesque grape growing region of Frankland River known for producing premium quality fruit - especially Shiraz and Riesling. It has a high elevation of close to 300m which is unique for Western Australian conditions and when combined with the red jarrah gravel loam soils it leads to wines of great intensity.
This story begins in 1890 when William Douglas selected 300 acres of land at Narnarup to become one of the first settlers as well as the first generation of Lange’s to farm the land. William Douglas built a large stone house, cleared 12 acres, planted 650 apple trees, 90 cherry trees and grape vines. He drained several acres of rich swamp land to plant potatoes and kept livestock including two horses, two cows and cape barren geese.
Great Southern Wine Region
Lange Estate is situated in the Great Southern wine region which lies along the Southern Ocean on Western Australia’s south coast. The pristine ocean and rugged coastline is only part of a spectacular natural environment that includes the ancient Stirling and Porongurup Ranges, magnificent forest, visiting whales and a multitude of wildflowers in season.
Great Southern wines are produced in five subregions characterised by unique geomorphic and climatic conditions. The subregions of Albany, Denmark, Frankland River, Mount Barker and Porongurup all produce distinctive fine wines that benefit from cool climate viticulture in a clean and green environment.
Frankland River
Frankland River is a key Australian wine sub-region the south of Western Australia. It is located just inland from the Southern Ocean coast, 115 miles (185km) east of Margaret River and 185 miles (300km) south-east of Perth.
With almost 5000 acres (2025ha) of vines planted, this is comfortably the most prolific of the five Great Southern sub-regions. Named after the river which bisects it (and the town at its center), Frankland River's soils and topography consist of significant alluvial features such as flood plains and valleys with mixed clays and gravels
Lange Estate's Fifth Generation Range
The Frankland River region is known for producing premium quality fruit, especially Shiraz & Riesling. Try Lange Estate's Fifth Generation range – Shiraz available in limited quantities, with a release of a Riesling coming soon!
Colour
Dark ruby red
Nose
Lifted bouquet of violet, vanillin and white pepper.
Palate
Flavours of rich plum with floral notes and white pepper finish. Fine velvety tannins integrated with oak fill the palate to give a long savoury finish.
Winemaking
The Shiraz fruit was harvested ensuring perfect sugar, acid and tannin ripeness was achieved. The fruit was brought into the winery and fermentation started. Once fermentation was completed, the wine was then gently pressed off the skins, transferred to oak and allowed to complete malolactic fermentation in a mix of new and seasoned French oak barriques. Following 10 months maturation in the barriques, all barrels were tasted and the best from each parcel of Shiraz and a small batch of Merlot were selected to create this premium Shiraz wine, epitomising the best from Frankland River.
Food Pairing
Ideal with hearty beef dishes and stews.
Vintage Notes
A superb vintage with perfect growing conditions throughout Spring. This ensured the development of healthy canopies, setting the vineyard up beautifully for the rest of the season. Mild, temperate conditions continued allowing the fruit to ripen perfectly, displaying pristine fruit quality with an abundance of flavour intensity, natural acid and sugar balance.
Colour
Dark ruby red
Nose
Lifted bouquet of red berries and rhubarb with hints of mint.
Palate
Flavours of rich elegant red berries, rhubard and tiramisu. Fine tannins fill the palate to give a long lingering finish.
Winemaking
The cabernet fruit was harvested at the optimal time, ensuring perfect sugar, acid and tannin ripeness was achieved. The fruit was brought into the winery to be processed and start fermentation. Once fermentation was completed, the fruit was left for a short while to macerate and soften the tannin profile while maximising colour extraction from the skins. The wine was then gently pressed off the skins, transferred to oak and allowed to complete malolactic fermentation in a mix of new and seasoned French oak barriques. Following ten months maturation in the barriques, all barrels were tasted and the best from each parcel of Cabernet Sauvignon and a small batch of Merlot were selected to create this premium Cabernet Sauvignon wine from Frankland River.
Food Pairing
Ideal with lamb steak with rosemary with a gratin dauphinoise.
Vintage Notes
A superb vintage with perfect growing conditions throughout Spring. This ensured the development of healthy canopies, setting the vineyard up beautifully for the rest of the season. Mild, temperate conditions continued allowing the fruit to ripen perfectly, displaying pristine fruit quality with an abundance of flavour intensity, natural acid and sugar balance.
Fifth Generation Riesling 2018
Coming soon! Stay tuned...
Lange Estate is a truly unique and beautiful winery. Their wines are made by Liam Carmody, an experienced winemaker who has worked in cellars around the world, including South Africa, France, California, New Zealand and Australia. Joining Forest Hill in 2008, Liam is a firm believer in the balance and fruit quality seen from dry grown vineyards, combined with a great passion for the subtleties of cooler climate winemaking.
For more information on the vineyard and other wine ranges, visit their website langeestate.com.au.