Langton’s Selections Irvine Grand Merlot Irvine sources its fruit entirely from its Springhill Vineyard elevated at 390-430 metres in the Eden Valley, a sub-region of the Barossa geographical indication. The vineyard is close planted on about 24 acres of grey-brown podzolic soils over gravel. The vines are increasingly being trellised on a Smart Dyson system. Irvine was established by winemaking consultant and all-rounder James Irvine. His generosity of spirit is well known in the wine industry. While his name is not famous, he has mentored some of the finest winemakers in South Australia. Irvine’s positive nature comes out in his wines, self- described as being “glorious, clearly regionally defined and terroir driven.” Certainly they have a distinct voice with a loyal following. Irvine has pinned its future largely on Merlot, a variety which has polarised fine wine buyers, especially in the US. It even makes a sparkling Merlot, a variation on the classic Australian sparkling Shiraz style made famous by Hans Irvine, a distant relative and founder of Great Western Cellars in Victoria. Winemaking veteran and daughter Joanne Irvine is now responsible for most winemaking. In 2006 she was named red winemaker of the year at the International Wine Challenge in the UK. In the world of Australian wine, Irvine Grand Merlot remains something of an aberration. The name derives from Jim Irvine’s grand introduction to Merlot – a glass of Chateau Petrus. The Grand Merlot is a style in evolution. However, don’t ever expect an elegant, minerally style. The wine is matured in a combination of new and used Allier oak for a period of around 3 years. This wine is massive, with plenty of fruit, oak and tannin. Jim Irvine explains that oak plays a supporting role to extremely dense, concentrated fruit. These multi-layered plushly concentrated wines with dense tannin structure are very much an experience. They straddle the traditional maturation and contemporary style giving freshness, complexity and volume. Jim Irvine recommends that these wines be decanted at least three hours prior to drinking. Irvine produces a number of variations on the Merlot theme including The Baroness a multi-vineyard Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Blend. A Reserve Zinfandel has also achieved some notable success in the fine wine arena. Andrew Caillard MW, Langton's