2004 Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz Billi Billi

JancisRobinson.com

• By Victoria Daskal
  12/22/2008, (See more on JancisRobinson.com...)

  (Mt Langi Ghiran, Billi Billi Shiraz Victoria Red) Subscribe to see review text.

• By Josh Raynolds
  September/October 2007, IWC Issue #134, (See more on Vinous...)

  (Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz Billi Billi Creek Victoria) Login and sign up and see review text.

The WINEFRONT

• By Campbell Mattinson
  12/12/2006, (See more on The WINEFRONT...)

  (Mount Langi Ghiran Billi Billi Shiraz) Login and subscribe to see review text.

• By Gary Walsh
  10/31/2006, (See more on The WINEFRONT...)

  (Mount Langi Ghiran Billi Billi Shiraz) Login and subscribe to see review text.

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  7/11/2007, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (BILLI BILLI Shiraz Langi) Billi Billi Dear Friends, We receive more calls/emails about the Billi Billi series than any other wine and while it’s almost 10:00pm on a Wednesday night, this just came to fruition so here goes... One of the finest cool-climate Shiraz bargains is back, this time with a great vintage that will make enthusiasts of this wine jump up and down. 2004 is considered by many long-time observers of Victoria and the Grampians in particular (where Mount Langi is based) to be one of the finest vintages in the last half century. Already rated a perfect 10/10 by James Halliday, the vintage will not go unnoticed in the US. Wait until you taste the 2004 Mount Langi Ghiran “Blue Label” Shiraz (the big boy) - while up in price, you get what you pay for and the wine is already a contender for “wine of the year” by more than a few passing palates Down Under. Until it is released later in the fall (and if you don’t want to spend money), there’s this amazing little bargain treat from the same vintage... We’ve offered the Billi Billi Shiraz for the past 3-4 years and each time it has been one of the most popular wines of the season. It is different in each vintage, not produced to a formula and often labeled as “the Burgundy drinker’s Shiraz” or “thinking man’s bargain Shiraz” and the 2004 will do nothing to dispel that. As one of Australia’s proudest cool-climate pioneers, Trevor Mast and his wunderkind Dan Buckle have been adamant about the Billi Billi over-delivering with its feminine and graceful style and in 2004 it’s almost too good (think of this as an 2005 village offering from Mugnier for a low cost and you will get what I mean). The raw materials were just too good in 2004 in the Grampians and there was really nothing to use in a bargain wine like Billi Billi - they did it anyway. Praised by nearly every retailer, critic and wine drinker I’ve talked to in Oz as one of the best well-priced wines on the market, this is about as close to a “can’t miss” wine as there is from Australia or anywhere else. If you are an anti-Shiraz enthusiast, this wine is a very good reason to bring your palate back for another try. It is educational and enlightening and a reason why Shiraz cannot be characterized simply by its over-ripe, cough-syrup South Australian brethren. This wine is so far from the same beverage as produced by the vast majority of SA Shiraz producers that it almost qualifies to use the label Syrah instead of Shiraz. Medium bodied, silky and more akin to a Chambolle with Syrah undertones of white pepper and cardamom than Shiraz, this is a beautiful wine in every respect. The acids are natural and so is the framework of this wine with red fruits and light earth tones that spill from the glass and a finish that leaves you refreshed instead of felling like you were hit by a sledgehammer. Due to the wine’s popularity in Australia I could not get very much of the 2004 - I tried to obtain a larger allocation but it’s basically gone at this stage so I won’t complain (at least we have some). A wine that serves as another reminder of the traditional importance of one of Australia’s few world-class wineries - Mount Langi Ghiran. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for incredible price/value, reflection of a timeless vintage and attention to detail ONE SHIPMENT ONLY (we cannot get more of the 2004) 2004 Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz “Billi Billi” Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Aus8540