Langton’s Selections Kaesler Old Bastard Shiraz, Kaesler Bogan Shiraz, Kaesler Old Vine Shiraz Kaesler is one of the traditional old wine family names of the Barossa. The vineyards were first established in 1893 and planted with Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro (Mourvedre) and White Hermitage (probably Semillon) vines now regarded as traditional regional varieties. The family purchased several blocks during the late 1890s and at one stage owned some of the “tidiest” parcels of land in the district. Much of the fruit was sent off to Seppeltsfield for port and sherry production. By 1917 grape sales were flagging and various blocks were pulled up. Several acres were planted to orchards including apricot, peach and plums. In 1944 the family holdings were divided up between three brothers. Economic hardship lead to the sale of two properties, but Arthur Kaesler (the youngest brother) held on to the home block converting orchards back to vineyard and maintaining its old vines. Grape growing during the 1960s and 1970s was a struggle. In some years the fruit was almost impossible to sell. In 1986 Arthur Kaesler sold the property to private hands. The fruit was mainly purchased by local wineries including Penfolds, Seppelt and Orlando. However in 1997 Cellarmasters made a Kaesler wine under contract. The old bush vine Shiraz attracted notice from winemaker and employee Reid ‘Boz’ Bosward. In 1998 he made a special bottling of Old Bastard Shiraz from the same block. A chance meeting in Bordeaux with a Swiss banker named Edourd Peters and a mutual dream of making something special let to the formation of an international syndicate and the purchase and consolidation of two of the three original Kaesler Blocks. Vineyard management follows a low input philosophy. The energy and investment in this winery has been exemplary. Reid Bosward is a gifted winemaker, and while born in Sydney, has the gait and charm of a Barossa Boy born and bred. Winemaking philosophy is non-interventionist. Kaesler’s top wine is Old Bastard Shiraz, a wine based on a parcel of original 1893 plantings. The early Old Bastard Shirazes were matured in American Oak hogsheads for 36 months. These days the wine style has evolved considerably. It is fermented in stainless steel and then racked into Burgundian oak for roughly 19 months maturation. Reid Bosward calls his winemaking, “Flying by the seat of my pants”. In truth he knows his vineyards backwards and plays on the strengths of his fruit. This is a beautiful Barossa style with glorious intensity of fruit and seductively rich palate structure. You really can’t get much better than this for top notch Barossa Valley Shiraz. The curiously named Bogan – an Australian term meaning uncouth or ‘rough around the edges’ – is a Shiraz based on mature vine (some going back to 1899) Marananga Shiraz. This is a more medium term cellaring wine with plenty of fruit volume and ripe smooth tannins. The oddly-named WOMS (weapons of mass seduction) is a traditional chocolaty Australian Shiraz Cabernet. The Fave Grenache is a new addition to the limited release range but it’s more than half decent. Kaesler also produces an Old Vine range including a generously concentrated Shiraz based on 45 year old vine material. The Avignon is a Rhone style wine which has a seductively slinky palate structure. The Cabernet, classic Barossa style Semillon, Aged Riesling and Viognier are all exemplary wines. Kaesler is an emerging producer with great potential. Andrew Caillard MW, Langton's