Dear //FirstName//
 
In this technological age with information available at the touch of a button, it’s easy to become overwhelmed, drowning in a sea of ‘expert’ opinion. But ‘experts’ often possess more data than judgement. No matter what the field, there really is no substitute for experience and in the world of wine they don’t come much more experienced than James Halliday.

Perhaps best known for his annual publication of The Australian Wine Companion, James has a career spanning over 40 years. In that time he has founded vineyards in Australia, worked in the Bordeaux and Burgundy regions of France, judged wine, written 50 plus books about wine, made wine and consumed his fair share along the way! It is for these reasons that Mr. Halliday's opinion is so highly valued and why we in turn continue to be humbled by his high regard for Langmeil wines.
 
The eagerly awaited 2016 edition of the Halliday Wine Companion has just hit the shelves and its glowing assessment of our current releases speaks for itself.

Long Mile Shiraz 2013
94 Points
Strong colour; a potent, medium to full-bodied shiraz with multiple layers of blackberry, plum and licorice sandwiched between ripe tannins and integrated oak. Will be long lived.

Valley Floor Shiraz 2012
92 Points
On the ball. On the money. Heady shiraz with thick black fruit and coffee-cream flavour. Pulls its throwing arm right back and hurls as much flavour the drinker's way as it can. Big and satisfying.

Blacksmith Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
89 Points
Has good varietal character and overall flavour, but the line on the palate is broken, resulting in a jumble sale of pieces of fruit, oak and tannin. Patience may see it regroup and please.
 
Fifth Wave Grenache 2012
95 Points
The vines are more than 70yo, classed as survivor vines by the Barossa Valley Charter. This is a very good grenache, reflecting the great vintage, and also what may be a change in the winemaking philosophy, seeking finesse as well as flavour; there are no cooked or confection flavours whatsoever.
 
Jackaman’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
93 Points
Open-fermented, basket-pressed, matured for 2 years in French oak. Has retained excellent deep crimson hue; full of blackcurrant fruit, with sundry nuances of black olive and dark chocolate, but leaves you searching for savoury notes ex cabernet tannins.
 
Orphan Bank Shiraz 2012
96 Points
Vines planted 1860, 10 rows relocated after 150 years; basket-pressed, open-fermented, matured for 2 years in French oak. Unsurprisingly rich and layered blackberry/blackcurrant fruit with notes of earth and licorice, yet all this comes in a measured way. Excellent oak and tannin balance.
 
The Freedom 1843 Shiraz 2012
98 Points
169yo vines, open-fermented, basket-pressed, 2 years in French oak. A brilliant exposition of elegance and balance: the idea that very old vines produce full-bodied thick fruit is 100% wrong, this has a gloriously juicy palate with both red and black fruits running through an extremely long palate. Mouthwatering purity. You should kneel in the presence of a wine such as this.

The only downside to what many have come to regard as the ‘Wine Buyers Bible‘ is that by the time it's released many of the particular vintages being reviewed are no longer current. Hence this email.

We will be moving to the next vintages of most of these wines (particularly the Valley Floor) very soon. While we pride ourselves on maintaining consistency from year to year, if you wish to sample any or all of these 2012’s please get in quickly to avoid disappointment.  SOLD OUT means SOLD OUT! http://www.langmeilwinery.com.au/The-Wines/Village-Wines
 

Kind regards as always,
 
Jonathan Bitter
Cellar Door Manager