The Story
Julian Langworthy is one of Australia’s most awarded winemakers, having taken home Halliday’s Winemaker of the Year in 2019, the preeminent Jimmy Watson Trophy in 2016, among a litany of others. However, put your hand up if you’ve heard of his side project winery, Nocturne? (Five vintages so far) Slowly, and with their subregional releases, Julian and his wife Alana are changing perceptions about what the Margaret River is capable of. These wines are made with beautiful restraint, showcasing the best fruit in the region. We are delighted to be carrying their latest releases of their sub-regional range, which, according to Julian & Alana, has “found its soul” with 2019.
The Wines
The Sub-Regional Range ‘SR’
Sangiovese Nebbiolo Rosé 2020
Sorry France, but it’s now common knowledge that it’s actually Italian varietals that make the best Rosé (Note: Clearly written by Jack). The Carbunup sourced Rosé was crowed best Rosé of Australia last year by the one and only James Halliday. The acidity of Sangiovese (80%) keeps the wine fresh, whilst Nebbiolo (17%) adds spice and grip in abundance. The last 3% of the blend is quite random: Brown Muscat; adding unique aromas. It’s light, ethereally fragrant, and zippy, with a beautifully dry and savoury mid-palate. A little bit of old oak action gives the wine a whisper of texture to go down. An absolute treat by itself or with a decadent cheese & charcuterie platter.
Chardonnay 2019
The fruit is outsourced from a place called Treeton, rather eccentric according to Julian, yet with a great potential for Chardonnay. It’s undoubtedly a Margaret River Chardonnay, but they’ve resisted the temptation to smother the beautiful fruit in new oak. There’s a little bit there, but just enough – this is a decidedly mid-weight and fresh style. It’s nutty, with lashings of creamy white peach, but with some nice lime juice linear acidity and plenty of flinty minerality on the finish. What strikes about this wine is the texture and length, which are so generous and long we could dream of it all afternoon after tasting the Chardonnay.
“Chardonnay is what Jesus made when he turned water into wine, it’s also why we winemakers have a God complex.”
Alana & Julian Langworthy, 2020
Cabernets 2019
Perhaps another dig at the French (Bordeaux: we are looking at you), but Yallingup is one of the best places in the world to grow Cabernets. It’s time to fall in love with Cabernet again, with this medium-bodied style and expression of pure fruit. Cassis and blueberry take the lead in a very perfumed iteration of the varietal, with faint hints of blackcurrant leaf and spices. The palate is chocolatey yet lively, with those same dark fruits to the fore (Malbec), while a drop of Merlot keeps things soft and cuddly. It finishes with striking minerality and freshness.
I <3 Cabernet #makecabernetsexyagain
Western Australia we miss you.
If you are interested in getting any of these come by the store or email us at glenn@decanters.com.au
Wine regards
Jack & Val
