Langton’s Selections Mountadam Chardonnay, Mountadam The Red Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Mountadam was established in the mid 1970s by Adam Wynn and his father David. David Wynn had founded the highly successful Wynns Coonawarra Estate winery in the 1950s. The Mountadam winery was built in 1984 and comprised the latest winemaking toys and technology. At 550 metres above sea level, and on well drained shallow soils, this vineyard site promises much, but unfortunately has delivered very little over the last 15 years. Boredom, lack of conviction and re-investment sidetracked Mountadam during the 1990s. Once a flagship of the boutique wine movement, it was all suddenly lost at sea. In 2000 it was purchased by the French luxury group LMVH – the owners of Cape Mentelle, Cloudy Bay and Domaine Chandon. Under its brief ownership, it invested greatly in improving vineyards. The new owner David Brown is a beneficiary of this great work. The enlightened appointment of Con Moshos (ex Petaluma) will see the Chardonnay move forward back into its position as a top South Australian Chardonnay in no time. The reds however are a longer proposition. The Red is a Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc blend. The Patriarch (since 1999 under the Mountadam label) has never really made an impact on the secondary wine market. Indeed the wines are just not up to scratch until around 2001. Mountadam is a really good example of where terroir can only reveal itself when it is in proper hands. That is why the human element can never be discounted when looking at the fortunes and vicissitudes of wine. The newly released Marble Hill Chardonnay, based on cuttings from pre-phylloxera genetic material brought out to Australia in the 1850s, is a particularly exciting new development. Andrew Caillard MW, Langton's