Langton’s Selections Hobbs Shiraz, Hobbs Gregor Shiraz Hobbs is a cult-type wine producer located just within the perimeter of the Eden Valley, a region of the Barossa Zone. Owners are Gregg and Allison Hobbs. Greg is an ex-cop and fireman who has had a life-long enthusiasm for fine wine. His 10 acre low-yielding vineyard, which comprises old vine material of over 100 years, adjoins Chris Ringland’s Randall’s Hill Vineyard. The location is cooler than the Barossa Floor. Stylistically Shiraz from here is more muscular in structure than Barossa floor material, but still more weighty and powerful than the more elevated Shiraz sites. Hobbs produces three wines based on Shiraz: an old vine Shiraz (matured in new and older French oak hogsheads for 24 months), an Amarone style ‘Gregor’ Shiraz and a Shiraz Viognier. Star winemaker Chris Ringland makes the wines which immediately makes these micro-cuvees (at present under 300 cases of each wine) celebrities in the American market. The styles are in line with the cult genre. The wines are richly concentrated and mouth filling with plenty of stuffing and flavour. These are not shrinking violets, but they are bloody well made. The Hobbs philosophy is simple, “Nurture the vines. Concentrate on preserving the complex balance of flavours and acids as the grapes mature. Hand pick when berries are at their optimum flavour ripeness. Combine skill, attention to detail and passion throughout the wine making process. Delight with the first taste.” This all sounds pretty good, but the prices have escalated in recent years illustrating the simple equation of demand outstripping supply. Hobbs also dabbles in a Barossa Grenache (the fruit is brought in), Viognier and a dessert Semillon. Andrew Caillard MW, Langton's