PRODUCER Peter Lehmann, with 33 vintages already under his belt, started his own winery in 1979, partly as a means of helping with the glut of grapes then afflicting the Barossa. "I'll take your grapes and turn them into wine," he told the desperate growers, many of them conservative farmers of Silesian descent who regarded their old vines as part of their patrimony. "But I'll only be able to pay you when I sell the wine." They gratefully accepted. Without this deal, it is widely thought that the Barossa would have lost a huge chunk of its old vines. The 'Masters' wines are made from the parcels regarded by the winemakers as the best Semillon, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz of the vintage.

VINEYARDS Grapes for this Shiraz were sourced from old, low yielding vineyards in the Light Pass, Nuriootpa and Bethany districts of the Barossa Valley. ‘Eight Songs for A Mad King’ was one of Peter Lehmann’s favourite vocal ensemble musical works, loved for its soft harmonies, inspiring Peter to emulate their art in a wine unlike anything else he had made before. 'Eight Songs' was first made in 1996 with the aim of producing a decisively soft and stylish style of Barossa wine.

VINIFICATION The grapes were fermented and macerated on skins for up to two weeks with some partial barrel fermentation. Following pressing and clarification, the wine was matured in French oak hogsheads for approximately 15 months.

TASTING NOTES This wine is deep red in colour. The nose displays notes of dark chocolate, coffee and mocha combined with lifted red cherry and raspberry. Finishing with soft, velvety tannins and soft red fruits on the palate.