Langmeil Wild Child Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

The rise and rise of Barossa shiraz has been to the detriment of Barossa Cabernet. Which is not to suggest that Barossa shiraz doesn’t deserve its national and international prominence, but it does highlight the slow decline of producer and consumer interest in Cabernet. So, when you see a stunner of a Barossa Cabernet, acknowledge it.

Let’s start with the new release Langmeil Wild Child 2019 Cabernet. There’s a measure of restraint here, a respect. I like that. Aromas of ripe cabernet arrest the senses, of lavender, briar, black berries, bay leaf and fennel. Oak is measured. Tannins are fine and nicely acclimatised within the generous body of the wine. It’s medium-bodied which might surprise some. This is no Barossa blockbuster. It’s designed to show the gentler side of the region and succeeds. The more you search out Barossa Cabernet, the more you are rewarded.

Jeni Port

Wine critic at Winepilot

Jeni Port is one of Australia’s top wine communicators. Based in Melbourne, Jeni created the first wine column in the (then) Sun News-Pictorial before moving over to The Age and becoming that paper’s longest-serving wine writer. Over the years she has written for most Australian wine magazines and these days calls WinePilot home. She is also a Tasting Panel member on the Halliday Wine Companion. She was named Wine Communicator of the Year and Legend of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in 2014 and in 2018 Legend of the Vine. She is a founding board member of Australian Women In Wine and is the co-deputy chair of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards and China’s Wine List of the Year Awards.

Wine writer and critic