“Started in 1969, Mount Langi Ghiran is known for its crisp, vibrant style of Victorian Shiraz.” - Wine Spectator

And if you asked Agent Noir about his favorite Southern Hemisphere hidden gem, MLG is it!

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate has the background: “Mount Langi Ghiran is out there – literally. Its location in the heart of the Grampians is incredibly remote and has a far cooler growing season than many might imagine until you consider it is placed at an altitude of around 350 meters. Amongst the ancient granite mountains of this region, the vineyards were originally planted in 1964, establishing this estate as one of Australia’s leaders of cool climate Shiraz.”

And Vinous has the latest on the region and vintage: “The sheer diversity of wine styles in greater South Australia is nothing short of mind-bending. Name it, they make it …and in Heathcote, massive and high-octane bottlings of Shiraz are the general rule… overall, 2020 was an extremely hot and dry vintage, but it actually started off quite cool, with budbreak at the beginning of September in most sub-regions… it’s a low-yielding year, drastically so for the colder, high-altitude sub-regions. The good news is that the best wines that were eventually made show serious depth of flavor and power, strongly suggesting that they are built for aging.”

And the beauty of it is, you can get all that today being an Operative, for a mere 18 bucks! This oozes with fruit aromatically and flavor-wise. If you dig them big Zins or Pinots while new to, or shy with Shiraz, this is your gateway drug. Juicy berries red, blue, purple and black galore. There’s a refreshing hit of fresh cracked Tellicherry pepper, and rubbed sage too, with enough complexity to build a small hill of fine tannins over the tunnel of vibrant acidity that washes your palate like a big wave in the Pacific. This is bound to remain the undisputed best QPR in Shiraz for the year, so…

You back that Aussie-sized truck up!

And remember, all good things, like this li’l pile of 94+ pointer 18-dollar yumminess, must come to an end eventually so don’t let it get away.

94+ Points – Andrew Caillard MW

“Deep crimson. Espresso, dark cherry, blackberry aromas with roasted almond/ hint marzipan notes. Bouyant and chocolaty with plentiful dark cherry, blackberry fruits, fine grainy al dente tannins, very good density and underlying savoury, hint vanilla/marzipan notes. Finishes chalky mineral with persistent dark berry fruits. Maturation in seasoned French oak and parcels in stainless steel. Drink now-2028.”