Langtons Selections ^2Grant Burge Meshach Shiraz, Grant Burge Shadrach Cabernet Sauvignon, Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz, Grant Burge Holy Trinity Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvedre Grant Burge is one of the largest landowners in the Barossa and has built up a collection of impressive and historic vineyards mostly located in the southern and central parts of the Barossa floor and the Eden Valley. A fifth generation Barossa winemaker, he named Meshach Shiraz after his great-grandfather, who arrived in South Australia at age 11 in 1855. He lived to the ripe old age of 98, establishing the Wilsford Winery at Lyndoch. With superb viticultural resources, dovetailed with a family history and a bit of show business, Grant Burge has become a highly successful commercial wine producer making wines at several price points. He has established a remarkable reputation for quality and consistency for all his wines. His show medal tally is almost an embarrassment of riches. The secondary wine market however pays little attention to such accolades preferring the reality of track record and the sensibilities of the collector. It is Grant Burge’s Meshach Shiraz that has played no small part in the ascendancy of the Barossa Shiraz vernacular. This wine brings utterly sublime vineyard resources, marketing imagination and accessibility to the fine wine consumer. While it is pricey, it’s also fair. It generally offers a much better bang to your buck than many over-hyped cult type Shirazes. The fruit is sourced from the 80 year old Filsell vineyard planted on deep alluvial soils near Lyndoch. The vineyard is triaged on optimum ripeness and flavour development. This is often around 14 degrees Baume. The wine is vinified in open headed down fermenters at warm temperatures. Towards dryness, the wine is drained and pressed, completing fermentation in mostly new American oak hogsheads. Meshach is a highly concentrated and generous Barossa style with a ripe, dense palate packed with fruit, pronounced tannins and supported by American oak. Meshach is already highly regarded for its potential longevity and structure. Meshach has evolved as something of a secondary wine market staple. If Grange is a market indicator Meshach is something of a market backstop in the same way as Penfolds Bin 707 or Henschke Mount Edelstone. Grant Burge’s other ‘icon’ wines include the plush but erratic secondary market performing Shadrach Cabernet Sauvignon and the rather classical, indeed brilliant Abednego Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre. The latter has almost no presence on the market which must say something for its immediate approachability. Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz, Holy Trinity Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre and Hillcot Merlot are also regularly traded. Grant Burge is an important Barossa producer. While its product range is extensive, the commitment and resources are there for a bright future. Andrew Caillard MW, Langtons