The 2020 edition of yearly red wine finished Longrow Red is a 13 year-old expression.
It spent the first 10 years in a mixture of bourbon barrels and refill sherry hogsheads, followed by 3 years in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels from Mont Gras’ Intriga Estate in Alto Maipo, Chile.
Longrow Red 13 yo – Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon (51,6%, OB 2020, 9000 btl.)
Nose: strawberries, cranberries and oranges lead the way. Sooty smoke in the background, alongside wet concrete and tobacco leaves, leather and some boat rope. Some muddy, farmy notes as well. It’s quite a rich, obvious winey side with a nice balance nonetheless.
Mouth: I have much more difficulty with it now. There’s this fragrant, almost perfumed berry note, reminding me of the strawberry / rose petal jam I once had. Then some musty spices and resin, as well as a slightly sulphury note. After a while the sour woodiness comes out, with a tannic grassy side. The combination of savoury, sweet, perfumy and sour elements don’t mingle too well. Too much wine, simple as that.
Finish: not too long. More of these chocolate notes, mixed with oak spice and grassy touches.
As you know I’m not a fan of red wine finishes. The nose was quite appealing but on the palate it’s pretty much everything I’m afraid of when I see ‘red wine’ on a label. The Longrow peatiness can’t make up for it. Vast price differences, I’ve seen € 70 but also € 120 – anyway this flies off the shelves.