Langton’s Selections Dalwhinnie Shiraz, Dalwhinnie Cabernet Sauvignon, Dalwhinnie Eagle Shiraz, Dalwhinnie Chardonnay Ewan Jones established the Dalwhinnie vineyard in the early 1970s with the help of, amongst others, tenor David Hobson, winemaker David Hohnen of Cape Mentelle fame and son David. This is classic gold-mining country with quartz and decomposed slatey soils over friable clays. The vineyards are set in a natural amphitheatre accentuated by contour-planted vines. Planted at an altitude of between 360- 595 metres, it works on a philosophy of low input and low yields. This is a particularly well drained, low-yielding, dry farmed vineyard which also enjoys excellent soil moisture holding properties. At harvest the vineyard is triaged at varying ripeness levels to achieve a broader flavour spectrum. The winemaking philosophy is in evolution; extended maceration and open fermenters are used to improve flavour complexity. After pressing off in a traditional basket press the wine is matured for up to 16 months in a combination of new and used American and French oak. The Langton’s Classified Shiraz is a remarkable wine. It has a buoyancy, sublime power and velocity few wines possess. The style is typified by pure blackberry pastille/white pepper/garrigue aromas and flavours with underlying new savoury oak, fine loose knit tannins and great length. The Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the regions leading wines. The tannin quality has greatly improved from sappy in the 1980s, chalky in the 1990s to classically fine grained in the 2000s. Indeed there is a certain beauty recaptured in recent times. The Eagle Shiraz is the ne plus ultra, produced in 1986, 1992, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2002. This wine is sourced from a select 2.5 acre Shiraz block planted in 1977. Cropping level is approximately 1.5 tonnes per acre. The wine is vinified in small open fermenters and matured for around 18-24 months in French oak barriques. The standard Shiraz however seems to have an effortless consistency that is frankly hard to beat. The delicious and classically proportioned Chardonnay is probably one of the most unsung top Chardonnays in Victoria. I can only think of Giaconda that can boast and perhaps outgun such extraordinary consistency and persistency. Dalwhinnie South West Rocks Shiraz derives from a corner of the Dalwhinnie property planted with cuttings from Best’s original 1860s vineyard. This is very much a work in progress. Early vintages have a menthol note. The Pinot Noir is well regarded but has a minimal presence on the secondary wine market. Dalwhinnie is a small and important central Victorian winery capable of producing one of the very best Shirazes in the country. David Jones, winemaker and owner since 1994, has done a great job with this Victorian jewel. Andrew Caillard MW, Langton's