Langton’s Selections ^3Craiglee Shiraz Craiglee Shiraz is regarded as one of the top Shirazes in Victoria. Craiglee is located at Sunbury, west of Melbourne. The historic bluestone winery was built by J.S. Johnston in 1865 and is set in grounds with beautiful Moreton Bay Fig trees. The winery went out of production in the 1920s. A cache of 1872 Craiglee Sunbury Shiraz was found buried at the winery in the 1950s and, after tasting the wine, John Brown of Milawa fame, encouraged the Carmody family to re-establish the vineyard and winery. He said, “Any site anywhere in the world that can produce a wine that lasts for 100 years is worth being replanted.” The re-planted 10 hectare vineyard is now over 25 years old. Planted on alluvial river flats close to Jackson Creek, a tributary of the Maribyrnong River, the soils comprise sands over river stones. Since the 1985 vintage, the wines have shown extraordinary consistency of quality. It is quite a different wine to any other, reflecting its own unique site. The wines have earthy/pepper/raspberry and black olive aromas, tightly structured palates and iron-like tannins. They age well as they become more earthy and complex with softer tannins and length. Regardless of this, opinion is quite divided over the style. Consequently, the market can fluctuate quite markedly – the strongest demand being generated by Victorian buyers. Andrew Caillard MW, Langton's