Singular appeal and value of single vineyards for collectors
The latest edition of Langtons Classification of Australian Wine shows an increased demand for single vineyard wines at auction. The question is, why are they so desirable to fine wine collectors?
The latest edition of Langtons Classification of Australian Wine shows an increased demand for single vineyard wines at auction. The question is, why are they so desirable to fine wine collectors?
Cru, clos, lieu-dit, climat. Collectors of fine Burgundy will be familiar with these evocative French terms. They are often used interchangeably, much to the chagrin of Burgundians and the fine wine anoraks. Their specific definitions aside, their function is to establish boundaries into which growers and the most obsessed collectors focus their attention. They create little vine worlds beyond which the nearest, contiguous vineyard is a foreign country. Collectors will pay a king’s ransom for a bottle from one side of an ancient stone wall while, on the other side, a prince’s ransom. It is Burgundy, after all, and its influence reaches around the world.
What does Burgundy have to do with the Langtons Classification of Australian Wine? Indeed, there are no grands crus on the list. What is to be found in the Classification is the influence of Burgundy in the shape of collectors’ pursuit of Australian single vineyard wines.
Planting a single vineyard, naming it, nurturing it, and coming to know its idiosyncrasies, growers look to express a sense of place. At the same time, winemakers seek to craft distinct, if not unique, wines.
Over time, when the quality and craft are recognised, wine lovers discover, and collectors follow. Demand for the hallowed wine increases, but the limit bites. That is when the wine achieves that most desired quality: scarcity. Collectors consider the opportunity cost of opening and enjoying the wine or holding to sell at auction. As each year passes, there are fewer bottles from each vintage. Nothing is more desirable to collectors of fine wine (and other things) than that which they cannot have.
Single vineyard Australian wines listed in the Classification showcase the unique character of a specific terroir, the meticulous attention to detail in the vineyard, and the winemaker’s skill and dedication. The appeal and importance of single vineyard wines in Australia can be attributed to the provenance of terroir, the distinctiveness of each wine, limited quantities, and the extraordinary care involved in their production.
Terroir, an ambiguous word for the combination of soil, climate, geography, and culture of a specific vineyard, imparts a distinct character to the grapes grown on its vines. Single vineyard wines are a direct expression of this terroir. Land, so tangible, and our relationship to it, so personal, is deeply resonant. Terroir is the confluence of soil composition, elevation, aspect, wind patterns, and other environmental factors that shape the vineyards.
Among the notable single vineyard Australian wines is Giaconda in Beechworth. Giaconda’s meticulous approach emphasises terroir and embodies the distinct characteristics of the Beechworth region. The granitic soil composition and cool, sub-alpine climate contribute to its finesse and elegance, making it a wine by prized collectors who appreciate the purity of terroir in their collection.
Tolpuddle in Tasmania is another revered example of single vineyard winemaking in Australia. Their chardonnay, grown in the Coal River Valley, demonstrates the impact of a unique climate on the grape’s flavour profile. Tasmania’s cool maritime climate is reflected in the wine, enticing collectors seeking wines with a genuine sense of origin and climate influence.
In the Eden Valley, Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz epitomises the concept of a single vineyard masterpiece. The Hill of Grace vineyard’s ancient vines produce grapes that capture the essence of the region’s terroir. The attention to detail and care in the vineyard and winery culminates in a wine that collectors value for its finesse, complexity, and the story it tells through the land it comes from. More than that, wine is a living part of Australian history.
The Sami-Odi Hoffmann Dallwitz Shiraz in the Barossa Valley is a testament to the winemaker’s dedication and the region’s unique terroir. The meticulous care and ambition of crafting this wine are reflected in its intensity and depth, making it a prized addition to any fine wine collection.
Wine lovers seek these single-vineyard Australian wines for their exceptional quality and the story they tell — the story of the land, the vines, and the laborious process of creating a bottle of wine that captures a sense of place. However, their scarcity makes these single vineyard wines desirable, which is why they find themselves listed among Australia’s best in the Classification.
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