Langtons 6th Classification Tasting Adelaide May 1st, 2014

[phillisc]

Hello all, with a somewhat fuzzy head this morning will try and make this brief:
Went to the langtons 6th last night at the national wine centre in adelaide.
First impressions was that langtons did a pretty good job in organising things, but their book on the wines is in all glossly black, so impossible to write a tasting note, take a scrap of paper.
As part of tasting Australia, capped to 300 people, in two big rooms with heaps of excellent food. riedel shiraz vinum glasses were very good.

after the self indulgent crap of a fancy video , works better than the websites and a few words from Andrew Calliard we were under way.
The highlights were plenty, but head a shoulders above all else was a 2012 wendouree horizontal and a 20 year O'shea vertical

I did break the rule of trying wines that i will never buy but oh well

Rieslings
2008 contours, really good, lovey lemon and lime,
2013 petaluma a real stand out,
grossetts 2013 largely underwhelming, spingvale better than PH,
2013 Leonay, a brilliant brillant wine, best white of night, 2005 mature release in a really good spot

cabernet
2010 JR sulking now, massive structure don't touch for 15 years
2010 Noons reserve, fascinating effort form Langhorne creek, amazing depth
2011 MM quintet, very good from an average vintage...
2010 MM quintet...best cab of the evening...brilliant fruit, so restrained at 12.7%, fabulous in the mouth...will live forever
Redbank sallys, 2000, 01 and 04 all looking really good, very impressive
2010 balnaves tally, much more fruit driven and forward than the riddoch, rich and classy
2010 Majella really fluffy furry tannins, not sure about this one
2009 Mallea really lovely style, light, all fruit and really morish, a great c/s blend lingers on and on and on
2010 Petaluma, rubbish, hard dry over extracted stewed, where was the fruit very dissappointing
2012 Jasper Hill Georgias...this was one of the 4 huge dissappointments of the night...really horrible wine can not say anymore...does not deserve to be in the list
2009 katnook oddessy nothing special a pleasant drink but lacks fruit intensity
2010 Yalumba signature really balanced great mouth feel, really good tannin structure very good
Parker first growth, 2005, 2008, 2010, 05 and 10 really impressive, 2008 quite lost...not in the same class as the other two, somwhere between tally and JR

wendouree master class
althought the bradys were not in attendance a lovely chap did the honours, only queue of the night really and attracting far more interest than pretentious pennies who had a table to themselves across the way
2012 releases, shiraz quite approachable now, good fruit but light in structure and finsihes a little short, but remaining 4 were exceptional Shiraz malbec and mataro both excellent fantastic structure full bodied really good. The cabs were the stars...stright cab absolutely blew my socks off powerful wine immense structure and depth...don't look at for 15 years, cab malbec also very very good. will be buyng 2 mixed cases and for the first time since the 1993 vintage that i have tasted these wines on release.

shiraz, a few hits and misses here, but more hits!!
2010 st henri, believe the hype, after telling the pennies chap its the only one i am interested in , poured me a half glass!! plush, layer after layer, fabulous tannins...will get 6 if under $80
2012 Keasler old bastard very close to wine of the night, plush fruit lovely sweetness lingered for ever
2010 Kalleske Johann George, ditto the kaesler...these 2 were simply brilliant
2009 JB Amargh...not work the $250...but a solid honest effort
2009 Katnook Prodigy another honest effort...similar to the oddessy primary fruit needs to make more of a statement
2010 langmeil freedom, brilliant wine would toy buying some...thinking Barosaa on song here
2005 YY number 1 a fantastic suprise, at 9 years fresh as a baby beautiful fruit balance and plush and rich...excellent
2010 Michael very impressive but has now receded a litttle since 2013 Wynnsday...built for the long haul
1994, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2010 O'shea, what can i say, a real gold find here...still a little primary fruit left in the 94 but just drying out , 98 impressive and remaing three are all really great examples of the hunter..well done
2012 bests Bin 0 more gold here central vic knows how to make a red so rich great in the mouth
2012 thompsons...voted by 20 or so around including me as WOTN by a fu*king mile...brilliant, but can i afford it at $145??
2006 three rivers, great to chat to Ringers, bottle opened and decant at 5am!! the most hedonistic red of the night, just had to try it...leave grange and HOG in the shade...simply stunning
2010 coriloe Lloyd, a return to form, fantastic mocca chocolate...MV as a region so underrated. great wine
2010 Dalwhinnie, another return to an old friend, sad that i don't buy much of the Vic stuff any more really lovely and long great wine
2005 Eagle, very impressive has years in it, so much fruit
2010 Noon reserve top representation of MV, drew noon such a lovely bloke!!
2010 Craiglee another smart example of the label, white pepper still there, really well balanced big tick
2010 St peters, very close runner up for WOTN, plush rich lingering tannins great example, would like to get 6
2010 rockford BP...simply wow!! runner up to the Thompsons, such fantastic structure, plums aplenty such sweetness and richness, the rockford stand did over a dozen bottles. have 12 of this but should have 12 dozen, the punters here will be very pleased they got this one
2011 graveyard hunter unaffected by 2011 vintage in the top 5 tonight a really full and brillant wine, could have a bottle for dinner now...fantastic
2006 and 2010 Kays block 6, 06 was the star, 2010 needs a decade, both very good so rich and decadent, again MV for you what an great area!!
2010 Wild duck spring flat and reserve, forgot the wine makers name, lovely bloke exceptional wines in my top 10, and at 35 and 70 respectively makes TWE's prices look plain stupid. Will be getting on the mailer
2010 PL stonewell, first to include EV fruit, a great example, really immpressed
2009 Elderton command, had not had this label for a few years but this was really good, great fruit expression, Barrossa on song this evening
2009 Octavius, decanded since early morning, and still closed but potential will be massive, really good such power on the palate
2012 JH Emily's like the georgias, such a dissappointment completely stripped, hard acidic and just yuk...really not sure what is going on here with this label
2009 HOG nothing special, certainly not worth the money
2010 MT ed. rounds out my top 5...simply brilliant and if i win lotto will get a dozen

WARNING
2006 and 2010 Run Rig...the worst two wines tonight by a strret, stewed harsh over extracted really poor.

Now for the wallflowers
Hard at a tasting like this for the fortifieds and stickys to get a look in but with 15 minutes left
Chambers muscats and tokays senational...
Noble one apricots and sunshine in a glass...beautiful
seppelts 100 year old, 2 tastes of this, can still taste this morning...the only queue all night...amazing concentration.

Seppelts 40 yo para really good

to sum up, Victoria, Barossa and MV on song
Grange 707 malaise, there were full bottles left over...does anyone really care, HOG nothing special and JH and torbreck need to clean up their act or should be excluded from the classification.

had dinner afterwards with the Rockford gang and got some inside running of future releases.
Worth $120 you bet...well done langtons, well organised, great venue, 300 poeple just right, no queues, great food.

Cheers Craig.

[Diddy]

Thanks for the tasting notes Craig - sounds like a great event!

Unlike the Melbourne tasting, it sounds like all wines in the classification were on show (as opposed to different classes of tickets)?

Also, for those interested, I noticed that the new classifications have been posted online:-

https://www.langtons.com.au/Classification/

[Diddy]

Just had a read of the new classification and it looks as thought they've consolidated it into 3 tiers: Exceptional, Outstanding and Excellent.

https://www.langtons.com.au/Classificat ... ained.aspx

[paulf]

Great Set of notes there Craig!
You've done well to get that much down I reckon.

I'm not going this time around - I don't need any more temptation to buy stuff right now, at least until I've worked my way through a few cases in the cellar.

Did you get to try the Crawford River Riesling by any chance? That blew me away at the Langtons tasting last year.

Some of those cabs make for some interesting reading as I've had different, more positive experiences with them - the Petaluma and Majella in particular as I have tried them both a few times now - Could they be hitting awkward phase now.

I would have loved to try the 100 yr old para - I reckon you got your moneys worth right there!

[Redback]

Thanks for the notes Phil.

Notice that the Kalleske Johann George was available for tasting so it looks like it has made the classification. Did you notice any other new wines that made the list?

[Diddy]

Thanks for the notes Phil.

Notice that the Kalleske Johann George was available for tasting so it looks like it has made the classification. Did you notice any other new wines that made the list?

16 new wines made it apparently -

1. Rockford Black Shiraz
2. Grosset Gaia
3. By Farr Sangreal Pinot Noir
4. Lake’s Folly Chardonnay a
5. Primo Estate Joseph Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
6. Chambers Rare Muscat
7. Chambers Rare Muscadelle
8. Seppetsfield Para Liqueur Tawny
9. Bindi Original Vineyard Pinot Noir
10. John Duval Plexus
11. Kalleske Johann Georg Old Vine Shiraz
12. Glaetzer Amon-Ra
13. Langmeil Freedom 1843 Shiraz
14. Noon Eclipse
15. Penfolds Yattarna
16. Penfolds RWT

Did I get them all!?

[Diddy]

I've stuff something up, because I've missed the Seppeltsfield 100 year old Para!

[phillisc]

Thanks for the notes Phil.

Notice that the Kalleske Johann George was available for tasting so it looks like it has made the classification. Did you notice any other new wines that made the list?

No did not notice any others apart from Rockford black, the only sparkling on the list.
Yes sad that I missed lovedale semi and crawford river riesling. Can't try them all, but "did" look at 70 wines.
Also somewhat suprisingly Greenock Creek was the only no show.
Yes agreed Petaluma normally shows better than it did yesterday, suprised that only a handful of wineries actually bothered to decant their wines
Yes 3 classifications only now, distinguished has gone.

Cheers Craig

[Scotty vino]

I can't see Primo's Joseph sparkling red mentioned anywhere in these 3 classifications.
Am i Blind or is this a joke?

[TrickyH]

Agreeing with Craig on all but one point.
It was a really good show, just the right crowd size and good food to accompany the tasting. Have to give kudos to the serving staff with the vast majority being happy to have a chat and talk about the wine - even though they had done it 200 times before on the night.
Completely agree regarding Grange and HOG. Comparing them to the lesser lights (St Henri and Keyneton/Mt Ed) of a better vintage makes a mockery of the ridiculous prices.
The Torbreck's on tasting (Descendant and RunRig) only reinforced by bias against the house style: over extracted jam.

A highlight for me were the Margaret River Cab's - I think they were all 2011's: Moss Wood, Howard Park - all outstanding.
Other standouts for me were the Lakes Folly Cab, Mt Langhi Ghiran Shiraz, Rolf Binder Hanisch, Yarrra Yerring Dry Red No.1, Best's Bin 0, and Primo Joseph Moda (2012 - back to top form)

My only point of contention with Craig is the Petaluma Cab Merlot - this was one of the half dozen wines that I made a note to purchase. I thought the fruit was quite to the fore, certainly not dry or stewy.
One of the issues I had on the night was interference of residual taste. I was quite underwhelmed by my first tasting of both the Cullen and the Castagna - but tasting later in the evening left a more favourable impression. Not sure if this is what happened here Craig or whether you had a dodgy bottle.

[Polymer]

Thanks for the notes Phil.

Notice that the Kalleske Johann George was available for tasting so it looks like it has made the classification. Did you notice any other new wines that made the list?

16 new wines made it apparently -

1. Rockford Black Shiraz
2. Grosset Gaia
3. By Farr Sangreal Pinot Noir
4. Lake’s Folly Chardonnay a
5. Primo Estate Joseph Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
6. Chambers Rare Muscat
7. Chambers Rare Muscadelle
8. Seppetsfield Para Liqueur Tawny
9. Bindi Original Vineyard Pinot Noir
10. John Duval Plexus
11. Kalleske Johann Georg Old Vine Shiraz
12. Glaetzer Amon-Ra
13. Langmeil Freedom 1843 Shiraz
14. Noon Eclipse
15. Penfolds Yattarna
16. Penfolds RWT

Did I get them all!?

Penfolds RWT...replace that w/ the 100 year old Para..
Bindi Original was there before..I think Wendouree Shiraz Malbec is new? (I think before it was just Shiraz, Cab, Cab Malbec, Shiraz Mataro).

[Diddy]

You're most certainly correct - the Penfolds RWT and Bindi Original Pinot Noir were on the Classification V.

The Seppetsfield 100 YO Para I missed...

Wendouree Shiraz Malbec was previously under Excellent.

Can't find the 16th.... Grrr

[Polymer]

I'm looking at Excellent and it has only the Cab Malbec and Shiraz Mataro...must be their app is wrong because I see it listed elsewhere....so #16..hmm...

Everything out there seems to be off...including Langtons own app..

But I think it is this:
HENSCHKE Keyneton Euphonium

[Diddy]

I'm looking at Excellent and it has only the Cab Malbec and Shiraz Mataro...must be their app is wrong because I see it listed elsewhere....so #16..hmm...

Everything out there seems to be off...including Langtons own app..

But I think it is this:
HENSCHKE Keyneton Euphonium

Bingo!

[phillisc]

My only point of contention with Craig is the Petaluma Cab Merlot - this was one of the half dozen wines that I made a note to purchase. I thought the fruit was quite to the fore, certainly not dry or stewy.
One of the issues I had on the night was interference of residual taste. I was quite underwhelmed by my first tasting of both the Cullen and the Castagna - but tasting later in the evening left a more favourable impression. Not sure if this is what happened here Craig or whether you had a dodgy bottle.

Tricky, I have been having a think about this and now that the head is clear, more than prepared to concede...I know Andrew Hardy well and through a friend have been able to procure a reasonale stash of Petaluma over the years.

It has just dawned on me that I consumed the riesling and by coincidence it was the last white i tried and for convienence started the reds with the 2010 Coonawarra.
After a delicate riesling, the tannin, brute force of the fruit probably sucked my cheeks together and my initial reaction was ...yuk!
Have many vintages from 98 onwards and yes a great wine, so your call is absolutely spot on.

I am still completely bemused however (and at perhaps at nearly 50 my palate is changing) regarding both jasper hill and torbreck. I have 4 vintages of jasper hill georgias and emily's and love heathcote generally. Perhaps the style made in 2012 has polarised me. I love the big thumpers, cue 3 rivers here which i could drink all night...but can not for the life of me work out Run Rig and from different vintages, I and many others in the room were in agreement.
Your are right about 2010 Mt edelstone...absolutely beatiful in comparison.

Envy you (i just ran out of time) that i did not look at Langi or anything from WA...always the next one.

Cheers Craig.

[phillisc]

I can't see Primo's Joseph sparkling red mentioned anywhere in these 3 classifications.
Am i Blind or is this a joke?

Not blind and agree with you it should be in. Cheers Craig.

[Scotty vino]

I can't see Primo's Joseph sparkling red mentioned anywhere in these 3 classifications.
Am i Blind or is this a joke?

Not blind and agree with you it should be in. Cheers Craig.

For about $60.00 retail its darn good value compared to its peer in the Rockford Black Shiraz.
Either way if the Rockford is listed you cannot exclude the Primo IMO.

BTW Your notes on Wendouree sound very favourable indeed.
I'll be getting a spread as per usual, but the cabs sound amazing.

[grapeobserver]

My observation is that it's mostly a good news re-classification. 4 new "exceptional", +15 to "excellent", and the entirety of "distinguished" moved to "excellent" plus some extras there too. No demotions from the overall list, and only 1 downgrade that I spotted!

[camw]

I can't see Primo's Joseph sparkling red mentioned anywhere in these 3 classifications.
Am i Blind or is this a joke?

Not blind and agree with you it should be in. Cheers Craig.

For about $60.00 retail its darn good value compared to its peer in the Rockford Black Shiraz.
Either way if the Rockford is listed you cannot exclude the Primo IMO.

It's based on secondary market performance. If the Primo doesn't show consistent demand at auction, it doesn't get in.

[Sean]

deleted

[n4sir]

I can't see Primo's Joseph sparkling red mentioned anywhere in these 3 classifications.
Am i Blind or is this a joke?

For about $60.00 retail its darn good value compared to its peer in the Rockford Black Shiraz.
Either way if the Rockford is listed you cannot exclude the Primo IMO.

It's based on secondary market performance. If the Primo doesn't show consistent demand at auction, it doesn't get in.

I thought that too, and in the past it was also based on sheer volumes produced/sold which may be another reason (if there isn't that much of it made). It's a major reason why things like Penfolds Special Bins are excluded - that said, I also think that was the major reason Para 100 YO was excluded for so long. Who really knows?

I find the inclusion of the "standard" Para Liqueur Tawny an interesting one - by extension, does the Langtons "Excellent" classification then also include the Para 21 YO Single Vintage Tawny (a much, much better wine made continually from the eighties)?

Also interesting to see some of my predictions back for Classification V four years ago have come to fruition this time around - the additions of Penfolds Yattarna & Primo Estate Moda Cab Merlot, and that Kalleske Johann Georg & Glaetzer Amon Ra were automatically in after they met the minimum 10 years in production qualification.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10686

Anyone go though and work out which wines have been dropped? A bit of a pleasant surprise to see Lindemans Limestone Ridge & Orlando (I still call it that) St. Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon still there - the former has been doing better in recent years (improvements in both wine quality & auction sales) while the St. Hugo name has been butchered with all sorts of mutant Jacob's Creek variants appearing on the shelves. Without St. Hugo, I guess Pernod Ricard may not have had any wines at all in the classification, which would be a huge kick in the teeth to one of our three big corporates - it would also be a bit strange to not to see at least one Lindemans wine in the classification.

Cheers,
Ian

Ps. Thanks for the notes Craig, sounds like a great event.

[grapeobserver]

I can't see Primo's Joseph sparkling red mentioned anywhere in these 3 classifications.
Am i Blind or is this a joke?

For about $60.00 retail its darn good value compared to its peer in the Rockford Black Shiraz.
Either way if the Rockford is listed you cannot exclude the Primo IMO.

It's based on secondary market performance. If the Primo doesn't show consistent demand at auction, it doesn't get in.

I thought that too, and in the past it was also based on sheer volumes produced/sold which may be another reason (if there isn't that much of it made). It's a major reason why things like Penfolds Special Bins are excluded - that said, I also think that was the major reason Para 100 YO was excluded for so long. Who really knows?

I find the inclusion of the "standard" Para Liqueur Tawny an interesting one - by extension, does the Langtons "Excellent" classification then also include the Para 21 YO Single Vintage Tawny (a much, much better wine made continually from the eighties)?

Also interesting to see some of my predictions back for Classification V four years ago have come to fruition this time around - the additions of Penfolds Yattarna & Primo Estate Moda Cab Merlot, and that Kalleske Johann Georg & Glaetzer Amon Ra were automatically in after they met the minimum 10 years in production qualification.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10686

Anyone go though and work out which wines have been dropped? A bit of a pleasant surprise to see Lindemans Limestone Ridge & Orlando (I still call it that) St. Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon still there - the former has been doing better in recent years (improvements in both wine quality & auction sales) while the St. Hugo name has been butchered with all sorts of mutant Jacob's Creek variants appearing on the shelves. Without St. Hugo, I guess Pernod Ricard may not have had any wines at all in the classification, which would be a huge kick in the teeth to one of our three big corporates - it would also be a bit strange to not to see at least one Lindemans wine in the classification.

Cheers,
Ian

Ps. Thanks for the notes Craig, sounds like a great event.

Sadly enough, I did work through and find out which wines were dropped (and included). Perhaps remarkably, none appeared to be dropped from the classification, and the only downgrade appeared to be Hardy's Eileen Hardy Shiraz from Outstanding to Excellent. I only say "appeared" because the old classification didn't seem to be on the new site, so I looked at some 3P sources.

[phillisc]

Really enjoyed reading your notes Craig - an herculean effort after "tasting" all that wine.

I think I have picked out your top 5 (though obviously many other really good wines there). All of them a shiraz interestingly.

2012 Thompsons "WOTN by a f..... mile"

2010 St Peters "very close runner up for WOTN"

2010 Rockford BP "simply wow!! runner up to the Thompsons"

2011 Graveyard "in the top 5 tonight"

2010 Mount Ed "rounds out my top 5"

Thanks Sean, yes funnily enough all shiraz, but from three different states, but two each right accross the road from each other more or less.

2010 MM Quintet was absolutely amazing and for me the best cab.

Thanks Ian for the vote of confidence, first time i have systematically spat and scibbled...it was a great event all round

Cheers
Craig.

[phillisc]

I can't see Primo's Joseph sparkling red mentioned anywhere in these 3 classifications.
Am i Blind or is this a joke?

Not blind and agree with you it should be in. Cheers Craig.

For about $60.00 retail its darn good value compared to its peer in the Rockford Black Shiraz.
Either way if the Rockford is listed you cannot exclude the Primo IMO.

BTW Your notes on Wendouree sound very favourable indeed.
I'll be getting a spread as per usual, but the cabs sound amazing.

Scotty, without getting ahead of myself and yes have said on the forum before that I have the palate of a horses arse, simply put they were all very very good.
Agree with many here now that it is not all about the shiraz and the cabs and the blends were truly lovely wines.
It will be a question of what i can afford, but yes all worth getting

Cheers craig.

[Scotty vino]

Craig,
Mate your palate is your palate, if it tastes great than that's all that matters.!
Can't really go wrong ordering a mix of Wendouree. I haven't tried all of their varietals but I've had enough to know that I'm a fan, particularly of the shiraz and shiraz blends. I can see how it possibly polarises being a unique style.