The wines of Bremerton, Langhorne Creek, South Australia

Strathalbyn Road, Langhorne Creek, SA 5255, Australia
Phone: +61 8 8537 3093 Fax: +61 8 8537 3109
E-mail: sales@bremerton.com.au
Website: www.bremerton.com.au
UK agent: Seckford Wines

The Willson family have gradually moved from being grape growers to winemakers: the first wine was made in 1988, and they now produce more than 20 000 cases annually, the vast majority of which is from estate-grown fruit. Their vineyards cover 100 hectares (that's a substantial area) in the Langhorne Creek region, which is about an hour south west from Adelaide.

The house style seems to be lush reds with a very soft tannin structure. These are attractive, accessible wines, and I was impressed by how well the rich fruit and new oak are integrated in the two top reds. Available in the UK from Andrew Chapman Fine Wines (www.surf4wine.co.uk).

Verdelho 2001
Made with just 3 h skin contact and using no oak and only free run juice. The bright, lively nose is slightly floral and very crisp. Youthful at the moment, but well balanced and with good acidity. Very good

Tamblyn 1998
A Cabernet/Merlot blend. Lush, ripe nose with attractive sweet berry fruit. The rich, soft palate shows seamless integration of oak and fruit, with a very soft tannin structure. Quite chocolatey. Very good+

Young Vine Shiraz 1998
From the 2000 vintage this will be renamed the ‘Selkirk’ Shiraz. Deep coloured, displaying ripe, sweet chocolatey fruit on the nose. Lush, ripe fruit on the palate with good acidity and soft, rich tannins. Spicy mid-palate. Quite impressive. Very good+

Old Adam Shiraz 1998
This spends 22 months in oak. Deep coloured, concentrated wine. This shows a sweet, semi-exotic liquoricey edge to the fruit on the nose. The palate displays rich, lush fruit with a sweet edge and soft tannins. Great concentration. A forward, full style, and the considerable oak influence doesn’t stick out at all. Very good/excellent

Walter’s Cabernet Sauvignon 1999
22 months in French oak, 80% of which is new. Lush, sweet attractive nose of ripe blackcurrant fruit and menthol. Intense, concentrated palate shows great density of rich fruit with a touch of spice and some tannin. Like the Old Adam, the oak doesn’t stick out. Very good/excellent

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wines tasted January 2002