Every now and then, Peter Lehmann releases a rare jewel from deep within the cellar. The King is a superb fortified wine of great distinction which has laid undisturbed in the bottle for many years under the Peter Lehmann Tanunda Cellars. A mature blend of Shiraz and Touriga Nacional grown to good Barossa vineyards, the King must be decanted carefully, as a vintage Port of this distinction will show some sediment and some crust. A monarch of a wine

The 1997 vintage of The King, has been titled AD2018, using the symbolic number of 21, linking The King’s suggested optimum maturity with the age commonly associated with final entry into adulthood.

Eleven years old on release, this wine is showing all the benefits of extended bottle age. The colour has matured to a deep garnet. The nose has enticing hints of dark cherry and marzipan. Whilst richly mouth-filling, it has a taut structure and finishes remarkably dry, as do all the great classical Portuguese Vintage Ports. A treasure of a wine. 1997 was a splendid Shiraz vintage, producing wines of richness and depth. A blend of 60% Shiraz and 40% Touriga Nacional, the great Portuguese variety.

Fermented on skins for 3/4 days & then fortified with brandy spirit. Following fortification, macerated on skins for a further 10 days. After pressing & clarification, the wine was aged in old barrels for 12 months. This wine will benefit from decanting prior to serving after a splendid dinner and served with stilton and freshly cracked walnuts, home made fruit cake or delicious chocolates.

Gold Medal - Sydney Wine Show 2000
Gold Medal - Barossa Wine Show 2003
Gold Medal - Barossa Wine Show 2006

Three gold medals when young; the wine is spicy, but too sweet for most aficionados of its Portuguese equivalent. Vintage Port. Drink 2015. 90 Points; James Halliday