Langtons Classification V – 22% up on entries
Today should be Australian Fine Wine Day! Wine Australia’s week long Landmark Tutorial, of which I have been a priviliged participant (the week’s wines shown above), ended today with suitably august speeches from wine writer and industry doyenne, James Halliday and Paul Henry of Wine Australia. The Gourmet Traveller Wine Awards have just been announced (see my earlier blog of today for the winners). And finally, Langton’s, Australia’s leading fine wine online auction house released Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine V. The Classification highlights Australia’s best performing wines on the secondary market.
After a week of tasting among Australia’s finest wines, and meeting some of its grooviest as well as established movers and shakers, it came as no surprise to me that the classification features 33 new listings, an increase of 22%. According to Langton’s, this reflects “widening secondary wine market demand and a growing interest in regional and single vineyard ultra-fine Australian wine. It also reflects a dominance of cellaring style red wines.” Below follows extracts from Langton’s press release summarising key aspects of the new classification. As for the Landmark Tutorial, I’m about to embark on two weeks of intense tasting travels across New South Wales and Victoria, so I may not have time or internet access to report further, but watch this space for tastings notes and reflections!
Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine V
Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine V comprises 58 shiraz/blends, 40 cabernet/blends, 10 pinot noirs and 15 white wines which are divided into 4 rankings: Exceptional, Outstanding, Excellent and Distinguished, determined by reference to, as a rule of thumb, a minimum of ten vintages and a track record on the secondary wine market.
As is the tradition, Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz, heads up the list. The dominance of shiraz, including five new ‘Exceptional’ entrants, reflects the variety’s reputation for longevity and diversity of style. The addition of Jeffrey Grosset Polish Hill Riesling to the highest ranking acknowledges and rewards a unique masterpiece.
Exceptional new entrants and changes are:
BROKENWOOD Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz, Hunter Valley NSW – promoted from Outstanding
CHRIS RINGLAND Shiraz, Barossa SA – promoted from Outstanding
CLARENDON HILLS Astralis Syrah, McLaren Vale SA – promoted from Outstanding
CLONAKILLA Shiraz Viognier, Canberra District, NSW – promoted from Outstanding
GROSSET Polish Hill Riesling, Clare Valley SA – promoted from Outstanding
TORBRECK RunRig Shiraz, Barossa Valley SA – promoted from Excellent
Outstanding new entrants and changes
BALNAVES OF COONAWARRA The Tally Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra SA – NEW
BINDI Block 5 Pinot Noir, Macedon Ranges Vic – NEW
D’ARENBERG The Dead Arm Shiraz, McLaren Vale SA – promoted from Excellent
DE BORTOLI Noble One Botrytis Semillon, Riverina NSW – promoted from Excellent
DALWHINNIE The Eagle Shiraz, Pyrenees Vic- NEW
GREENOCK CREEK Roennfeldt Road Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley SA – promoted from Excellent
GREENOCK CREEK Roennfeldt Road Shiraz, Barossa Valley SA – promoted from Excellent
GROSSET Springvale Riesling, Watervale SA – promoted from Excellent
KAESLER WINES Old Bastard Shiraz, Barossa Valley SA – NEW
MCWILLIAM’S Mount Pleasant Lovedale Semillon, Hunter Valley NSW – promoted from Excellent
NOON Reserve Shiraz, Langhorne Creek SA – promoted from Excellent
PENFOLDS Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz, SA – promoted from Excellent
PENFOLDS St. Henri Shiraz, SA – promoted from Excellent
TAHBILK 1860 Vines Shiraz , Nagambie Lakes Vic – promoted from Excellent
TYRRELL’S Vat 1 Semillon, Hunter Valley NSW – promoted from Excellent
WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra SA – promoted from Excellent
Excellent new entrants and changes
BEST’S Bin No.O Great Western Shiraz, Great Western Vic – promoted from Distinguished
DOMAINE A Cabernet Sauvignon, Coal River Valley Tas – promoted from Distinguished
GIACONDA Warner Vineyard Shiraz, Beechworth Vic – NEW
HOUGHTON Jack Mann Frankland River Cabernet Blend, Frankland River-Greta Southern WA – promoted from Distinguished
KATNOOK ESTATE Prodigy Shiraz, Coonawarra SA – NEW
LEO BURING Leonay Riesling, Eden Valley/Watervale SA – NEW
MAIN RIDGE ESTATE Half Acre Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula Vic – NEW
MOUNT MARY Chardonnay, Yarra Valley Vic – promoted from Distinguished
NOON Reserve Cabernet, Langhorne Creek SA – NEW
PARINGA ESTATE The Paringa Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula Vic – NEW
PARKER COONAWARRA ESTATE Terra Rossa First Growth Cabernet Merlot, Coonawarra SA – moved from Outstanding
PENFOLDS Magill Estate Shiraz, Adelaide SA – promoted from Distinguished
PENFOLDS RWT Shiraz, Barossa SA – NEW
TORBRECK Descendant Shiraz Viognier, Barossa Valley SA – NEW
WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra SA – promoted from Distinguished
YERINGBERG Cabernet Blend, Yarra Valley Vic – promoted from Distinguished
Distinguished new entrants and changes
CASTAGNA Genesis Syrah, Beechworth Vic – NEW
COLDSTREAM HILLS Reserve Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley Vic – NEW
D’ARENBERG WINES The Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale SA – NEW
FREYCINET VINEYARDS Pinot Noir, East Coast Tas – NEW
KILIKANOON Oracle Shiraz, Clare Valley SA – NEW
MCWILLIAM’S MOUNT PLEASANT Maurice O’Shea Shiraz, Hunter Valley NSW – NEW
MOUNT LANGI GHIRAN Langi Shiraz, Grampians Vic – moved from Excellent
PARINGA ESTATE The Paringa Shiraz, Mornington Peninsula Vic – NEW
PEWSEY VALE The Contours Riesling, Eden Valley SA – NEW
PENFOLDS Bin 128 Shiraz, SA – NEW
PENFOLDS Bin 28 Shiraz, SA – NEW
PENFOLDS Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon, SA – NEW
ROLF BINDER Veritas Hanisch Shiraz, Barossa Valley – moved from Excellent
SAVATERRE Chardonnay, Beechworth Vic – NEW
TURKEY FLAT Shiraz, Barossa Valley SA- NEW
VOYAGER ESTATE Cabernet, Margaret River WA – NEW
WANTIRNA ESTATE Amelia Cabernet Merlot, Yarra Valley Vic – NEW
WILD DUCK CREEK ESTATE Springflat Shiraz, Heathcote Vic – NEW
WIRRA WIRRA RSW Shiraz, McLaren Vale SA – NEW
WOLF BLASS WINES Platinum Shiraz, SA – NEW
WOODLANDS Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River WA – NEW
WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE Michael Shiraz, Coonawarra SA- NEW
YALUMBA The Signature Cabernet Shiraz, Barossa SA – NEW
Thank you for a comprehensive rundown on the new edition of the Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine V. I love it that Grange is heading up the list as this is truly a beautiful drop. I am also pleased to see Woodlands of Margaret River’s Cabernet Sauvignon getting a new entrant into the Distinguished category. Well done. I look forward to hearing your notes of your forthcoming trip.
Benji
The Margaret River Guide
Hi Benji, thanks, still travelling – very full on, like Landmark, but lots of beautiful drops! Yes, I expect Woodlands to whizz up the ladder of Langton’s ratings – they’re among my favourite WA cab blends.