2021 Lauren Langfield Merlot

Lauren Langfield may be a new wine label in Australia, but she is by no means new to the wine industry. After graduating from Lincoln University in Canterbury, Lauren worked in Marlborough and then Nelson before heading to Australia in 2011 where she worked as Winemaker for William Downie and later BK Wines.  Now the Manager and Chief Winemaker at Orbis Wines in McLaren Vale, Lauren established her own label in 2021 with fruit sourced from Gareth Belton of Gentle Folk Wines. 

Lauren recently won 'Best New Act' in the 2022 Australian Young Gun of Wine Awards and her wines have quickly captured the attention of the Australian Sommeliers too; being listed by the glass at Monopole, Yellow, Cirrus, Bentley, etc, several Merivale spots, and sold at good wine stores such as PnV, Drnks, and Blackhearts & Sparrows too.

Lauren is producing beautiful, well-made, fine wines from single varietals and single vineyards across South Australia. In this first release she has a Sauvignon Blanc and a Merlot, with a Cabernet Sauvignon soon to follow.

From Lauren: Made in a light, bright and fruit forward style, with the explicit intension of proving how delicious Single Varietal Merlot can be! The hand-harvested fruit was fermented in stainless steel, with approximately 40% whole bunches. After 12 days on skins it was pressed to French oak barriques and matured for 8 months. With a hint of carbonic fermentation on the nose, the overt ripe berries and pomegranate notes are supported by the traditional blood plum, vanilla and the tell-tale Australian Eucalyptus. Tannins are slightly crunchy, but fine and ripe, giving length and generosity. Can be served slightly chilled.

Review: "This is a crunchy red wine with a fair bit going on. It also offers a fair body of flavour. There are ample twig, spice and leaf notes strewn through the wine, almost but not quite to the point of hardness, though berried fruit keeps things rolling attractively along. This is a wine that definitely responds well to air; I had my doubts at first but as it breathed I swung entirely around to its view. It’s a good wine. Lively, crunchy, generous and strict at once." - The Wine Front