Oz Wines

[Jenise]

Got a maiiler from wine seller Garagiste in Seattle banging the drum for the 2004 vintage of Mt. Langhi Ghiran's 'affordable' shiraz, the Billi Billi.

I quote: 2004 is considered by many long-time observers of Victoria and the Grampians in particular (where Mount Langi is based) to be one of the finest vintages in the last half century. Already rated a perfect 10/10 by James Halliday....Wait until you taste the 2004 Mount Langi Ghiran “Blue Label” Shiraz (the big boy)...already a contender for “wine of the year” by more than a few passing palates Down Under....
A wine that serves as another reminder of the traditional importance of one of Australia’s few world-class wineries - Mount Langi Ghiran."

An early 90's vintage of Mt. Langhi Ghiran was both the first Australian wine and the first serious syrah I'd ever tasted, and it was mind-blowing. And I no sooner tasted it than it's picture was on the cover of the Wine Spectator, so in terms of my personal experience, MLG started out at the top. That others regarded it as "one of Australia's few world-class wineries" is, however, is news. Not startling, but news anyway, and good news because every bottle of MLG I've had since that first one has confirmed why this wine deserves that kind of attention.

But getting to my point, umbrage that might be taken over the qualifier "few" aside (don't shoot the messenger!), I wonder which wines/wineries others and particularly our friends from down under would nominate for a list of Australia's contributions to a master list of World Class Wines? Would MLG be on that list? Penfolds Grange would be, I presume. And Henschke's Hill of Grace, probably. Which others? Something from Leeuwin? Is Clarendon's Astralis too big or too new? Is Wynn's John Riddoch too easy?

Irvine Merlot
Hardy's Eileen Hardy Shiraz? (I haven't had this yet)
Kay Brothers?
Haven't had the Wynn's John Riddoch yet either but I hope to try it soon.

Jenise
I suppose there's already a semi official categorisation by Langtons (the big auction house). Effectively based on auction prices/interest, but with I'm sure a judgement on quality.

Class 1 http://www.langtons.com.au/Wine/Classif ... px?class=1 includes Penfolds Grange, Wendouree Shiraz, Cullen Cab/Merlot and others

Class 2 http://www.langtons.com.au/Wine/Classif ... px?class=2 includes Jim Barry Armagh, Brokenwood Graveyard Shiraz and others

Class 3 http://www.langtons.com.au/Wine/Classif ... px?class=3 includes the Mount Langhi Ghiran mentioned, as well as Wynns John Riddoch, Yarra Yering Dry Red # 1 and Torbreck Runrig.

Class 4 http://www.langtons.com.au/Wine/Classif ... px?class=4 Has Houghton Jack Mann, Tyrrell's Vat 1 Semillon, Seppelt's St Peters and others

For me the quality across Classes 1-3 is difficult to separate and it very much comes down to a judgement call on taste (as it should always!). Those I've picked out in Class 4 are wines some would have near the top of their preferences, but perhaps some of the others in this category are just good, but not spectacular.

My own opinion? Plenty of favourites in these lists (and outside of them). Mount Langhi isn't a massive star for me and their comment about it being one of the few world-class Aussie wineries is typical marketing fluff. If you asked Aussie wine fans to list the top 10-20 prestigious wineries, then it wouldn't feature much. That said, I reckon it's a very good wine and each should judge for themselves (as you do) rather than believing the marketing hype of merchants, nor following critical opinion rigidly.

Trying to sell a cheap (and quite often poorly regarded) quaffer on the back of the winery's prestige wine is also poor form, but not untypical marketing fluff. My own impression of the Billi Billi Creek is of a wine of little interest, that I doubt I'd be too bothered to taste again if it was in a line-up of US$20-25 Aussie wines.

I hope this is of interest and it was certainly interesting for me to have a glance through the Langtons categories, which I don't think I've done before.

regards

Ian

Thanks for the link Ian. I forgot about the Jim Barry Armagh. I see Kay Brother Amery Block 6 and Hardy's Eileen Hardy both made the "super seconds." I would have thought Torbreck RunRig and Veritas Hanisch would have been higher than the third grouping. At a tasting where I had both RunRig and Hanisch I preferred the latter.

I wonder which wines/wineries others and particularly our friends from down under would nominate for a list of Australia's contributions to a master list of World Class Wines? Would MLG be on that list?

I don't think that MLG would make the grade now. I went off their wines along time ago. But others would know better.

[Jenise]

Thanks for the link Ian. I forgot about the Jim Barry Armagh. I see Kay Brother Amery Block 6 and Hardy's Eileen Hardy both made the "super seconds." I would have thought Torbreck RunRig and Veritas Hanisch would have been higher than the third grouping. At a tasting where I had both RunRig and Hanisch I preferred the latter.

JC, since the classifications were put together by an auction house, I'd think their results were skewed toward second-hand demand which is determines demand not quality. Sometimes those are linked, sometimes not: I doubt many would argue that Chateau Montelena is a California First Growth, for instance, but it doesn't have the resale value of a Sloan or Hundred Acre, producers that are all of about five years old.

[Jenise]

their comment about it being one of the few world-class Aussie wineries is typical marketing fluff.

Oh, I realize, and this guy's a master. He could sell ice to eskimos, but sometimes he speaks well of a wine I think well of, too, and this was one of those instances. I explained why.

If you asked Aussie wine fans to list the top 10-20 prestigious wineries, then it wouldn't feature much.

Not surprising. I don't usually hear it spoken of with the same high regard I have for the wine.

Trying to sell a cheap (and quite often poorly regarded) quaffer on the back of the winery's prestige wine is also poor form, but not untypical marketing fluff. My own impression of the Billi Billi Creek is of a wine of little interest, that I doubt I'd be too bothered to taste again if it was in a line-up of US$20-25 Aussie wines.

I have actually quite liked the wine, but that's because the one or two times I've had it, it reminded me more of a Crozes Hermitage level Rhone than an Aussie wine--lots of olives and red earth. But it would certainly disappoint anyone looking for the big Aussie style. But anyway, the Billi Billi wasn't the target of my interest, it's just the offer that got me thinking about the senior MLG.

I hope this is of interest and it was certainly interesting for me to have a glance through the Langtons categories, which I don't think I've done before.

I appreciate your digging that up and providing the link. Must say I was surprised by the first tier list, some of those I've never heard of. And my word, a pinot noir!

For Shiraz?

Clonakilla, Craiglee, Seppelt St. Peters, Best's Great Western, Tahbilk, Torbreck, Lindeman's HRB ...

The Langi Shiraz is a nice wine, but far from the top of the pops. My experience with drinking it (limited really only to 90, 95, 96 vintages) suggests it's an attractive 8-10 year proposition. As Ian mentioned, the Langtons classification provides a pretty 'correct' view of the mainstream opinion concerning the most-demanded wines. They qualify their selection by requiring 10 released vintages, which at the moment precludes a lot of the extreme pro-Parker-style reds. Although, I'll think they'll soon be seen as an abberation as their lack of structure becomes more evident over time.

I think Australia does cool-climate reds rather well (most of Joe's list, for instance), and the less fashionable Hunter Semillon is a nearly unique style which is worth seeking out for those who want the sunshine/chardonnay image contradicted. I suppose the ubiquity of Shiraz across the country - and the myriad of styles for which it is used - makes it Australia's 'best' red wine in that sense; although there are a handful of decent cabernets you could slot into a Napa/Bdx line-up and they'd probably be easily mistaken for their colleagues.

Also, I think Australian riesling is under-rated. It's a tribute to the grape that Australian versions remain true to its character yet bear only faint resemblance to the very different styles of wine made in Alsace and Germany, to take the obvious alternatives.

As far as I'm aware, no-one in the country makes a decent chenin blanc, however...
cheers,
Graeme