Has anyone tasted the 2003 Mt. Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz?

jayhawker · Post by **jayhawker** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:38 am

Just took delivery of three bottles, which I bought blind based on some pretty stellar reviews, and my love of past vintages. Has anyone tried this one yet?

Gary W · Post by **Gary W** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:22 am

Tasting note - served blind in a linup of Au shiraz - which gives it context.

Mount Langi Ghiran 2003
Very rich and ripe. Blackberry, licorice and pepper. Quite porty. Spicy with high alcohol and soft tannins. Very spicy finish. Voluptuous but too much alcohol showing. 92 Points

GW
http://www.winorama.com.au

camw · Post by **camw** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 12:01 pm

I had a barrel sample of it in March and it was looking very smart indeed. Didn't notice the alcohol like Gary and my sample was much more restrained. Think I gave it 91 points which is pretty high from me.

jayhawker · Post by **jayhawker** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:53 am

Gary W wrote:Tasting note - served blind in a linup of Au shiraz - which gives it context.

Mount Langi Ghiran 2003
Very rich and ripe. Blackberry, licorice and pepper. Quite porty. Spicy with high alcohol and soft tannins. Very spicy finish. Voluptuous but too much alcohol showing. 92 Points

Wow, that's not like any Langi Shiraz I've ever had. I hope your bottle was an aberration, and that it's more as camw described it - more restrained.

I take it that this region had some unusually high heat in 2003?

jayhawker · Post by **jayhawker** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 3:04 am

Really, no one else has tasted this wine? I was under the impression that Mt. Langi was held in high esteem in Australia, and would have expected more people to have tried it. Hmmmm...

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:02 am

The power of marketing....

MLG Shiraz is held in high esteem by some people but the shiraz can be a bit polarising and isn't usually one of those that people rush to buy or sells out in a few weeks/months. Here is Jeremy Oliver's TN:
"A powerful, assertive and juicy shiraz with both under and over-ripe influences. Its spicy, peppery aromas of cassis, dark plums and chocolate/mocha/vanilla oak are lifted by a violet-like perfume and spicy, leathery undertones. There’s also a hint of spirit. Meaty, ripe and juicy, its forward and slightly confectionary palate does reveal some stressed, greenish and raw aspects which some sweet mocha/chocolate oak attempts to shield. Firm and astringnet, its finish is flat and spirity, lacking freshness and vitality. (Grampians, $55 retail, approx., 16.3/87, drink 2008-2011)"

Contrast this with the James Halliday "... full bodied, potent, powerful and dense wine, blackberry, spice, bitter chocolate and licorice, very good tannins and oak, long finish. Rating 95, Drink 2023" and you wonder if it's the same wine or whether JO's sample had a mild cork problem or he is just on the opposite pole of appreciating this wine.

jayhawker · Post by **jayhawker** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:11 am

Brian,

Thanks for the info, that's interesting. Do you have a personal opinion on MLG in general?

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:35 am

Jay, I quite like the Langi Shiraz style although the pepperiness can be a bit much some vintages and they can be a little variable as their picturesque micro-climate deals them a few rough vintages. I used to buy quite regularly in the very early 90's vintages, but then their reputation took off and the prices jumped from $15.75 (1991) to $25 (1994) and then rapidly up to $40. I stopped buying for a while around the $25 mark and started again when the price stabilised and other similar quality wines caught up in price. :-(

I drank my last 94 earlier this year and it was nicely mature for my palate, but would hold for years.

I also quite like the Cab-Merlot, the 1997 is drinking brilliantly now.

Gary W · Post by **Gary W** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 12:14 pm

jayhawker wrote:
Gary W wrote:Tasting note - served blind in a linup of Au shiraz - which gives it context.

Mount Langi Ghiran 2003
Very rich and ripe. Blackberry, licorice and pepper. Quite porty. Spicy with high alcohol and soft tannins. Very spicy finish. Voluptuous but too much alcohol showing. 92 Points

Wow, that's not like any Langi Shiraz I've ever had. I hope your bottle was an aberration, and that it's more as camw described it - more restrained.

I take it that this region had some unusually high heat in 2003?

This is a very atypical Langi. I think the truth is somewhere between Oliver & Hallidays rating..i.e. mine