Langton’s Selections Shadowfax Chardonnay, Shadowfax One Eye Shiraz, Shadowfax Pink Cliffs Shiraz, Shadowfax Argyle Shiraz Shadowfax is located at historic Werribee Park, on the western perimeter of suburban Melbourne. This was once a huge pastoral spread owned by the Chirnside family complete with a Scottish castle type mansion built during the 1880s. At one point the Chirnside’s had their own private army. Shadowfax has established a strong reputation for its well crafted wines made by the hugely skilled and intuitive winemaker Matt Harrop. A low input viticulture and laissez faire winemaking philosophy is followed. The multi-regional Chardonnay – typically based on Geelong, Macedon Ranges, Beechworth and Cardinia Ranges – fruit is classical and outstanding. The wine is barrel fermented in new (25%) and seasoned French oak, with further maturation in oak for around 10-11 months. The main jewels however are the three single vineyard Shirazes form Heathcote. The delicious black fruited gravelly One Eye Shiraz derives from Heathcote’s first vineyard planted by Albino Zuber. The vines are anchored in alluvial clay loams and are dry farmed. Vinification takes place in static fermenters. At dryness and after maceration on skins the wine is pressed off into a mix of 30% new and seasoned French oak for around 18 months. The profound micro-cuvee (open-fermented) Pink Cliffs Shiraz is based on a 1.1 hectare vineyard with meagre soils and underlying metamorphic rock. The Argyle Shiraz planted on gravel red soils punctuated with quartz and jasper comes off the coolest and most elevated of Shadowfax Heathcote vineyards. It sees a touch more new oak, but the maturation period is around 14 months. All of these great single vineyard Shirazes have excellent cellaring potential. Shadowfax also makes a Werribee Shiraz based on its vigorous home vineyard and a seductive multi-regional Pinot Noir. A Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Landscape Shiraz Viognier are also made. Matt Harrop is a genius. Andrew Caillard, MW