Langton’s Classified: Best’s Amongst Australia’s Most Collectable Wines
It’s often hard to know what wines to purchase that stand the test of time. How do you select a wine with a pedigree? Viv Thomson often talks about it being like reading the Melbourne Cup form guide and looking at which horse to back. In wine, it seems that it just got easier to pick a winner with the release of the new Langton’s Classification VIII .
The Langton’s Classification dates back to 1988 when auctioneer Stewart Langton launched Australia’s first specialist wine auction house. A year later, Master of Wine Andrew Caillard joined him, and they established a series of wine auctions to promote the best Australian wines to an international audience.
Some call Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine the “north star for wine collectors in Australia.” Now, with greater access to more data, the prestigious classification has evolved, with the 8th edition presenting a simplified system comprising 100 wines across 60 wineries.
What are the Langton’s Classified Wines?
There are two simple tiers, with a select few categorised, as evidenced in many of the Premier Cru/ First Growth Bordeaux wines from which the system was originally modelled.
- First Classified – the most highly prized of all Australian fine wines. Representing generations of effort and character of place
- Classified – the best winemaking practices, vineyard governance and regional voice.
To be included in the Classification, each wine must have been released for at least ten vintages and have a strong track record in the secondary market. Langton’s Head of Auctions and Secondary Market, Michael Anderson, notes, “
‘Being recognised on the LANGTONS Classification is about more than just making great wine. It ensures that those included are considered by critics, collectors and fine wine aficionados alike as at the very top of their game. The Classification is data-led and based on consistency, quality, clearance and tradability in the market. Internationally the Classification offers winemakers and winemaking regions the opportunity to benchmark themselves against the greatest and most traded wines in Australia. A stylistic form guide for what styles and techniques are hot and what names to keep an eye out for.’
Once again, Best’s Wines are listed amongst some of Australia’s finest wines. For years our wines have been included in the collection, and we’re thrilled to see two of our finest in the 8th edition. Our Thomson Family Shiraz was named in the First Classified, and Bin No. 0 Shiraz was included as Classified.
We’re pleased to be named alongside some of Australia’s most recognisable wines, like Penfolds Grange, Giaconda Chardonnay, Rockford Basket Press , and Wendouree Shiraz. It’s an incredible collection which highlights the diversity and depth of Australian wine.
Want to learn more about our Bin No. 0 Shiraz? Read about the history of this wine on our website. Learn more.
