2004 Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz Langi
Shiraz (Syrah)
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Pro Reviews
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JancisRobinson.com
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By Richard Hemming, MW
(Mt Langi Ghiran, Langi Shiraz Grampians Red) Subscribe to see review text.
8/31/2011, (See more on JancisRobinson.com...) -
By Julia Harding, MW
(Mt Langi Ghiran, Langi Shiraz Grampians Red) Subscribe to see review text.
6/17/2009, (See more on JancisRobinson.com...) -
By Julia Harding, MW
(Mt Langi Ghiran, Langi Shiraz Grampians Red) Subscribe to see review text.
6/20/2008, (See more on JancisRobinson.com...)
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By Josh Raynolds
(Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz Langi Victoria) Login and sign up and see review text.
September/October 2007, IWC Issue #134, (See more on Vinous...)
The WINEFRONT
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By Gary Walsh
(Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz) Login and subscribe to see review text.
6/11/2007, (See more on The WINEFRONT...)
Halliday Wine Companion
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By James Halliday
(Mount Langi Ghiran Vineyards Langi Shiraz) Subscribe to see review text.
1/24/2007, (See more on Halliday Wine Companion...)
Garagiste
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By Jon Rimmerman
(MOUNT LANGI GHIRAN) 2004 Mount Langi Ghiran Dear Friends, The recent Wine Advocate had me in a preaching mood but instead of boring you with the same old speech regarding the importance of scores in our wine-buying society, I decided to let the unscored do the talking - there’s no better ambassador than this. My connection to this winery runs as deep as any in the world and my heart has a special nook for the wind-swept vineyards high in the mountains of Victoria that Trevor Mast has called home for 30 years. Maybe I’m biased but if this is bias I can live with it. The gifts from this slice of paradise keep coming and the 2004 Shiraz continues the tradition that has made Mount Langi Ghiran one of the few true first growths of Australia for the past 2-3 decades. When you’ve proven your worth for nearly 40 years (first with Bests and then his own endeavor in the Grampians - I’ve tasted the 1968 Bests and 1977 Bests and they are as memorable as any wine I’ve ever tasted), you deserve all the accolades - especially when you are one of the most humble individuals in the wine trade: James Halliday: “One of the top half dozen Shiraz’s in Australia. The site climate of the Mount Langi Ghiran vineyards produces wines which have tremendous depth and complexity: there are pepper and spice notes, but there are also all of the lush ripe fruit flavours running from cherry to liquorice which a top Rhone Valley maker would immediately recognize and appreciate.” Maybe we’ve become synonymous with the wines of Mount Langi Ghiran so everyone seems to expects it but the 2004 is finally on its way and in the words of Dan Buckle - it is serious. A number of you have tasted this wine in Australia and already reported to me that is indeed a great Langi, one of the best since 1993 and 1989. They’ve been excited about this vintage since it first made it’s way into barrel and like the other top 2004s in Victoria (see 2004 Tatiarra Pressings, etc) it is overflowing with terroir filled extract, tannin and character. 2004 was one on the best vintages in the last decade in many parts of Victoria (it is similar to 1989 in Bordeaux - tough, long-lived and deep) and best of all the Langi still represents one of the best values in high-end, age-worthy Shiraz left in Oz. The closest US comparison I can make to Langi is Montelena - a classic winery that doesn’t rely on reviews for loyalty and beats to its own drummer, somewhat apart from the rest of the chase (Mount Langi doesn’t even submit samples to the Wine Advocate anymore - there’s really nothing left to write about). This winery has such an outstanding history of achievement that they go their merry way and sell every bottle that is made regardless of hype, scores or other. The original plan at Langi is the same - make the best wines in Australia and consumers will be loyal to your hard work - period. No marketing, commercial intentions or fancy graphics - just wine (and it’s been that way for 20-30 years). These are wines of reality. They are not pumped up for critics or to win game shows. They are meant to age into a wonderful combination of Cote Rotie circa 1978 and this unique parcel of land high in the Grampian mountains of Victoria. For the money, this is still Australia’s single greatest bargain. The 2004 Langi reminds many of the 1994, a wine that put Mount Langi Ghiran on the cover of the Wine Spectator as one of only three classic wines in Australia: Grange, Hill of Grace and Mount Langi. They could have parlayed this into “cult” status but instead, they preferred to just make wine This wine is one of very few that I purchase in every vintage for my own cellar sight unseen as I don’t need to taste it (although I did for your sake). I have a vertical going back to the mid 1980s and the wines never disappoint. They are intriguing, elegant and full of complexity - an anomaly with its own sense of history to live up to. The 2004 is a big rendition of Langi with a natural core of fruit, acidity and stone that reminds me of 1989 Hermitage. This should be a very long-lived version of Mount Langi that will please classicists and Rhone enthusiasts alike. An excellent effort and still one of Australia’s only true champion wines. As a man that has dedicated his life to the pursuit of paring food and wine - he’s done his part here with one of the best deals of the year - almost half price on the new release. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for soul and synergy of place, vintage and varietal. ONE SHIPMENT ONLY at this price with the finest provenance in the world - we will have a second shipment in January for a bit more, which is still a great price: 2004 Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz (blue label/Grampians) Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Aus8090
11/6/2007, (See more on Garagiste...)
NOTE: Some content is property of JancisRobinson.com and Vinous and The WINEFRONT and Halliday Wine Companion and Garagiste.
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Wine Definition
- Vintage2004
- TypeRed
- ProducerMount Langi Ghiran
- VarietyShiraz
- DesignationLangi
- Vineyardn/a
- CountryAustralia
- RegionVictoria
- SubRegionWestern Victoria
- AppellationGrampians
- Display optionsDefault
- UPC/EAN Code813952000048, 9300633736736
3/29/2024 - IlonaN wrote: 95 Points
Found this cellar orphan which had been previously marked as "consumed."
Well, what a good surprise, mellow, rich and deep in flavors with melting tannins and enough acid to support the generous fruit and notable warm spices. 20 years old and a superstar! Perfect to sip on its own and with a pork and spinach ragout. Garagiste said it would age for 20 years and it has done so splendidly.
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1/31/2024 - WindFlyer Likes this wine: 94 Points
dark ruby with garnet rim and full body. lovely balsamic nose of mature black fruit with sandalwood and whiffs of eucalyptus, soil, and crushed dried flowers. dry and shy on entry, it gains in volume and depth with alternating sweet and savoury notes to the dark fruit and delightful spice accents. lovely texture with powdery tannins and an umami quality that carries into the appreciable length.
fully developed and (this bottle anyway) ready to go for another decade or so.
15% AbV (well-integrated); screwcap closure.
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10/8/2022 - Rote Kappelle Likes this wine: 93 Points
The sight of an old wine under screw cap stirs the loins in the same way that the sight of Stormy Daniels in negligee no doubt would. Like Stormy you just feel the artificial closure is better at keeping the extremes of age and gravity at bay. And so it proves.
I don't know if some of the other comments on this wine are from bottles under cork (and so have tired earlier), however, this bottle is mature yet fresh; again like Stormy, I am sure.
Note is made after about 2 hours open, no decant and from a big ISO shape glass.
The colour is dense, garnet and a touch of brick, with minimal fading as you tilt the glass. It has to be Australian when you see those things.
2004 was a rather warm, dry year, following on from the devastating bush fires and extreme heat of 2003 (preview for California?). It was the year I bought a home with my splendid, now ex-wife, a wonderful creature to whom I will be forever grateful. It was also the year I changed career from lawyer to teacher (before changing back a decade later) - there is a lot of good stuff there and so there is the possibility that I am investing the wine with magic from memory that surpasses its objective qualities. Find a bottle at auction and see for yourself.
On the nose, there is definite alcohol heat (it comes in at 15% ABV), so keep this wine at cooler temps around 16- 17 degrees Celsius when you pour it. I can grit my teeth and live with alcohol heat if there are countervailing things of sufficiently compelling character and, here, I think there are. I get anise, clove and dark plum, perhaps some blackberry, rich earth and the slightest hint of Eucalyptus, that magnificent stoic tree of this sun blasted land. I am not one to love mint or Eucalypt in my wine, but this is just a small note and it works to offset the richness.
The palate is very long indeed, the intensity is excellent but here you hit the issue with high alcohol wines - they often lack a bit of steel to keep punching. A degree of alcohol lower and this wine would probably have the kind of intensity that makes Daniel Craig's Bond look like a flabby imposter. Everything else is superb and the tannins are at a lovely stage where they support the Stormy like upper part without getting in the way. Take note those who design those fussy brassiere clips.
If you serve this around 16-17 degrees Celsius you will also get a character that I consider almost classical Langi Ghiran - a sort of burnt orange, Negroni character. It is that bitter and sweet mix that makes me a bit weak at the knees. Stephanie Clifford, if you are out there, forget the sharks and table dancing and come drink with me.
Trevor Mast was a wonderful winemaker and this is another example of his brilliance. He might be dead, but his wines live on and so does his influence and, perhaps most of all, so does the pleasure he gave so many people. Could you want more?
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12/30/2021 - ShirazTrain wrote: 92 Points
Extracted from my wine storage for nye 2021/2022, tasted over 2 nights. {ScrewCap}
Dark purple in the glass, slight bricking, medium-small amount of sediment at the neck.
Mostly savoury, smoked meat, black pepper, caramel.
Sour cherry/plums/bramble fruits on the palate with a touch of spicy heat.
(hope tomorrow brings the fruits!)
Day 2 more of the same, good that it hadn't budged much in flavour but the fruit has waned, more into a secondary stage.
Lovely rich, dark fruit palate keeps the interest currently.
Taking away the bias (of cellaring this wine for 13 years)
Its slightly past best drinking window for my tastes.
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1/20/2020 - IlonaN wrote: 90 Points
Took to Commodore's Ball. Fully resolved and mature, has lost some of the brawn that it had in youth, quite lovely to drink now.
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