Peter Lehmann of the Barossa

Lee Barczak

Peter Lehmann is one of Australia’s legendary wine makers. The story goes that while working as a grape buyer for a huge, multinational wine conglomerate he always concluded transactions with the farmers on a handshake. They knew him and his word was his bond. One year, his bosses told him after all deals had been struck that they would not buy because of a surplus of wine on the markets. Unwilling to let down his growers and destroy his reputation, he begged and borrowed the money needed to make good his pledges. After finding a winemaker to make wines that would allow him to recoup his money, the wines now bearing his name were so good that he never looked back and a brand was born. Oh, and when that multinational conglomerate went back to these farmers to buy…let’s just say those Aussies were direct with their response about where the conglomerate could put their contracts!

Recently, I sampled Lehmann’s 2008 and 2009 “Layers” blend. These wines are made from varying combinations of grapes, usually featuring Semillon, Muscat, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris or Chardonnay. Combinations vary with the vintage but several obvious characteristics were constant. Both wines were pale, straw yellow in color with a fragrant nose of floral and citrus aromas. While delicious cold, I would suggest drinking them “cool” to get a full appreciation of the nose and the palate. Both also tasted a bit spicy at first with a quick turn to a touch of sweetness that spoke of pear, melon and that curious fruit from Asia, the lychee nut. I could suggest them as an easy drinking white throughout the holidays that would be as good with Thanksgiving Turkey as with party nibbles. It also stood up to a spicy, Thai chicken with peanut sauce, so having it with Asian food is certainly a good bet. One more wine that proves you will seldom be disappointed by Peter Lehmann. Cincin!