- Victoria’s Grampians wine region cultivates later-ripening varietals, producing wines of elegance and finesse. Although best known for its shiraz, the region is home to a wide range of cool-climate wines, including riesling, pinot noir, pinot gris, and more. With so many to choose from, we ask two local winemakers to nominate the wines that inspire, excite and interest them the most.
-
Mount Langi Ghiran
- 2017 Mount Langi Ghiran Mast Shiraz
- Dark ruby in colour. The bright, red berry bouquet has subtle hints of spice that flow through to the harmonious palate, featuring dried herbs, ripe raspberries, and beetroot. This wine is drinking beautifully now but will also reward careful cellaring over the next 12 to 15 years.
Adam says: “Trevor Mast was a legend of the Australian wine scene, revered as a pioneer of cool-climate shiraz. The Mast Shiraz is our tribute to his memory, recognising his role in establishing the reputation of Mount Langi Ghiran. Thanks to his foresight, our vineyards showcase the ultimate expression of cool-climate shiraz. This wine is hand-picked from our ‘House Block 4’ vineyard.”- 2019 Mount Langi Ghiran Billi Billi Pinot Gris
- 2017 Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz
-
Montara Wines
- 2018 Montara Riesling
- 2017 Montara Shiraz
- 2017 Montara Grampians Hill Block Single Vineyard Pinot Noir
Mount Langi Ghiran is an icon not only of the Grampians region but also of Australian cool-climate wines. Winemaker Trevor Mast championed the label’s shiraz in the 1980s, with Adam Louder working under him as a cellarhand in the 1990s. In 2018, Adam took over as head winemaker – he tells us about the wines he loves to make and how he’s continuing the legacy of his mentor, Trevor.
RRP $90 | Drink to 2035
An aromatic wine of white florals, pear and honeydew. The palate is crunchy, fresh and varietal, delivering a core of luscious pear and stone fruits intertwined with fragrant blossom and spice – a flowing, generous wine with chalky acidity that provides a persistent finish.
Adam says: “Mount Langi Ghiran was one of the first wineries to plant pinot gris in the nation. Over the last two decades, we have honed our skills in the vineyard and employed a range of winemaking techniques to create our classic Billi Billi Pinot Gris. Our success has encouraged us to continue to make and evolve this wine into a pinot gris that captures the intense flavour profile and acid structure that is reflective of our cool climate.”
RRP $18 | Drink to 2021
With a deep colour and intriguing bouquet of ripe, dark berries, cola and black pepper, this vintage is a classic expression of this revered label. The palate is filled with layers of mulberry, liquorice and the hallmark Langi spice, offering persistent flavour and incredible length.
Adam says: “Our Langi Shiraz is a benchmark for cool-climate Australian shiraz. The fruit of the 50-year-old vines makes it so unique, offering extreme complexity and stunning finesse, and it has consistently produced outstanding elegant wines.”
RRP $200 | Drink to 2038
langi.com.au
Montara Wines is a family affair. The six Stapleton siblings acquired the vineyard in 2006, before appointing winemaker Simon Fennell in 2016. Born and bred in South Australia’s Coonawarra wine region, Simon moved to Victoria in 2012 for a role as assistant winemaker at the iconic Best’s Great Western. By the time he was appointed head winemaker at Montara, he knew the nuances of the Grampians well. These are his top wine picks from the range.
It has signature aromas of lemon and lime, plus uniquely lifted floral notes of elderflower. This wine has tension, yet its texture is soft, ensuring great drinkability.
Simon says: “We have maintained a five-star rating thanks to the quality of our full range of wines, but it is our riesling that has been our most awarded variety. The fruit is sourced from two separate blocks from within the Montara vineyard, with a small portion wild fermented in older French oak, creating a wine of subtlety and substance.”
RRP $27 | Drink to 2030
There are blackcurrant and spicy fruit compote characters on both the palate and nose, followed by an integrated, cedary finish.
Simon says: “The 2017 Montara Shiraz is a rich, savoury and approachable wine with fine, integrated tannins that give it structure, integrity and elegance. This wine sees dedication and intention in its processing to enable colour and tannins to reach their desired potential.”
RRP $27 | Drink to 2030
Cherry cola, raspberry and strawberry with nutmeg and cinnamon spices. Savoury tannins from the whole bunch stem inclusion during fermentation provide tannins and round softness to the palate. The whole cluster addition provides fresh acidity, preserving the delicate flavours of the varietal.
Simon says: “This wine is an outstanding example of Grampians pinot noir. A very limited, small-batch vinification, and bottled from an exceptional vintage. It’s a great expression of site, legacy and winemaking style. In our 50th year, this single-vineyard wine is a celebration of region and terroir.”
RRP $45 | Drink to 2030
montarawines.com.au
*This article was produced by Halliday Wine Companion in partnership with the featured wineries.
Top image: © Wine Australia
