Producer Article
Stanton & Killeen
Last edited on 9/24/2022 by AndrewSGHall
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STANTON & KILLEEN WINES
Langton’s Selections Stanton & Killeen Jack’s Block Limited Release Shiraz, Stanton & Killeen Vintage Port, Stanton & Killeen Rare Rutherglen Muscat
The lure of gold and untold wealth drew many families to the gold fields of North East Victoria. In 1855 Timothy Stanton, a mechanic from Suffolk, made the journey to Australia eventually buying land at Rutherglen in 1864 with his son John Lewis Stanton. By the 1920s the Parkview winery and vineyards were flourishing under the ownership of John Richard Stanton. The Depression, not to mention Phylloxera, caused financial ruination for many vignerons including the original Stanton business at Parkview. However JR’s son Jack Stanton’s Graceray property managed to stay in family hands.
In 1953 Stanton and Killeen was formed as a result of marriage. Norman Killeen (he married Jack’s daughter Joan) took over the business in 1948 and steered the business to prosperity once again. Norman’s son Chris Killeen, who died at the age of 52 in 2007, took over the winery in 1981 as winemaker. He was a brilliant winemaker and a great collector of fortified wines from around the world (he bought quite a few bottles through Langton’s).
His obituary described him as “one of the last great port makers in this country which is almost criminal but it’s the truth.” The Stanton and Killeen property extends to 300 hectares of mixed farming land with around 30 hectares planted on well drained gravels and red loams over clay. Some of the original vineyards planted by Jack Stanton in 1921 still survive.
The Jack’s Block Limited Release Shiraz is not only a great Rutherglen rich chocolaty style but is also used as blending material in the highly regarded S&K Vintage Port (which comprises 4 port grape varieties). The vineyard is a fruit salad of plantings including Chardonnay, Durif, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Muscat, Muscadelle and the port varieties Touriga Nacional, Tinto Cao, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Roriz. Stanton and Killen make some of the regions finest Rare and Grand Muscats and Tokays. The Moodemere Shiraz was once highly recognizable on the secondary wine market during the 1980s, but it has since slipped into relative obscurity. The Durif is a regional specialty and a very good example of the genre. Stanton and Killeen is a great family winery with a strong portfolio of fortified wines. While this is not mainstream secondary market fare, the wines are exceptional and worth seeking out.
Andrew Caillard MW, Langton's
STANTON & KILLEEN WINES
Langton’s Selections Stanton & Killeen Jack’s Block Limited Release Shiraz, Stanton & Killeen Vintage Port, Stanton & Killeen Rare Rutherglen Muscat
The lure of gold and untold wealth drew many families to the gold fields of North East Victoria. In 1855 Timothy Stanton, a mechanic from Suffolk, made the journey to Australia eventually buying land at Rutherglen in 1864 with his son John Lewis Stanton. By the 1920s the Parkview winery and vineyards were flourishing under the ownership of John Richard Stanton. The Depression, not to mention Phylloxera, caused financial ruination for many vignerons including the original Stanton business at Parkview. However JR’s son Jack Stanton’s Graceray property managed to stay in family hands.
In 1953 Stanton and Killeen was formed as a result of marriage. Norman Killeen (he married Jack’s daughter Joan) took over the business in 1948 and steered the business to prosperity once again. Norman’s son Chris Killeen, who died at the age of 52 in 2007, took over the winery in 1981 as winemaker. He was a brilliant winemaker and a great collector of fortified wines from around the world (he bought quite a few bottles through Langton’s).
His obituary described him as “one of the last great port makers in this country which is almost criminal but it’s the truth.” The Stanton and Killeen property extends to 300 hectares of mixed farming land with around 30 hectares planted on well drained gravels and red loams over clay. Some of the original vineyards planted by Jack Stanton in 1921 still survive.
The Jack’s Block Limited Release Shiraz is not only a great Rutherglen rich chocolaty style but is also used as blending material in the highly regarded S&K Vintage Port (which comprises 4 port grape varieties). The vineyard is a fruit salad of plantings including Chardonnay, Durif, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Muscat, Muscadelle and the port varieties Touriga Nacional, Tinto Cao, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Roriz. Stanton and Killen make some of the regions finest Rare and Grand Muscats and Tokays. The Moodemere Shiraz was once highly recognizable on the secondary wine market during the 1980s, but it has since slipped into relative obscurity. The Durif is a regional specialty and a very good example of the genre. Stanton and Killeen is a great family winery with a strong portfolio of fortified wines. While this is not mainstream secondary market fare, the wines are exceptional and worth seeking out.
Andrew Caillard MW, Langton's