Langhorne Creek spring wine reviews

Langhorne Creek | 14.5% | $30
The Wolf Blass wine connection to Langhorne Creek was, in its early days, an important step in recognising the quality of the region, winning multiple Jimmy Watson trophies in the mid-1970s for a red blend similar to this. Here, the same respect oozes out of the glass, attractive aromas, black and blue berries with a creamy dark choc note tucked in behind, reserved cedary oak further in the background. It’s deftly concentrated yet juicy with high-energy flavours, smooth palate feels, fruit buoyant and the finest tannins adding just enough texture to hold all its elements in place long enough to enhance its overall beauty.

Langhorne Creek | 14.5% | $60
Named after the sporting riflemen in the families behind the Kimbolton label, the accuracy and achievements no doubt reflected admirably in this wine. Shiraz remains one of the region’s senior red plantings, and that’s also the case with the Kimbolton vineyards. The thrill here is its life-affirming modernity: plum crush and bush florals lead the way into the glass, deftly teasing complementing flavours and flow in the palate. Richly rewarding, perfectly ripe, medium weighted, underlying forest notes, and while there’s so much going on here, the wine remains fluid and relaxed – a true Langhorne Creek identifier. This year’s best Shiraz trophy winner at the region’s wine show – and the judges picked a beauty.

Langhorne Creek | 18.5% | $90
There’s so much to love about this traditionally made Verdelho, the variety is one of Bleasdale’s, and therefore Langhorne Creek’s original white varieties, in its early days directed into the colonial fortified trade. This was grown in a 1930s planted estate block, vinified then fortified and stashed away in old oak barrels under the winery roof, evaporating and concentrating its rich flavours and texturals for many, many decades. The final wine is a blend of aged material that averages out at 16 years, exuding dark citrus marmalade characters with edges of treacle and dried peel, sweet and bitter, though not overly sweet, offset by balanced underlying acidity so it never strays into cloying territory. A rare pleasure.

Langhorne Creek | 13.5% | $39
Judged the best overall wine at the region’s 2026 wine show, this is an exciting evolution of the Malbec variety, which doesn’t get the kind of airplay it deserves, often mixed and lost inside other more famed red blends. Here, as one of Bleasdale’s several singular vineyard Malbec variations, it shines a light on a more recent 2012 planting that already in its short history has shown to be aromatic, fleshy and very approachable as a youthful wine. And, so it is here, with a background waft of gum forest to a more prominent bouquet garni, then cut crimson plum fruit juiciness as you sip, its skin like grip tying up the finish which rolls on and on with a peppery exit. Pretty and serious all at once, it cries out for a serious chunk of charcoal-roasted leg of lamb.

Langhorne Creek | 14% | $28
Lake Breeze’s Cabernet Sauvignons and associated blends are benchmark wines of the region, perennially awarded around the nation, here winning the best Cabernet trophy at this year’s district wine show – an accolade it has achieved numerous times over many years. It is so beautifully varietal with its black currant/cassis and dark mint chocolate aromas, melding with native forest and garden violet florals. All of that swirls into the palate with a pastille fruit sweetness and the barest of cedary spice, the variety’s trademark tannins gathering around the flavour-rich palate with some discipline, lingering into the forevers. So delicious. If Cabernet Sauvignon has been off your red wine radar lately, this is the one to step back into – the noblest of varieties and a hero of the region.

Langhorne Creek | 13% | $26
Bremerton was an early adopter of this white-hot star of the new varieties, Mediterranean in origin, specifically southern Italy and on the island of Sicily, and now forging a happy home in the broader Fleurieu, especially Langhorne Creek and also McLaren Vale. It’s now well supported across several producers in the Creek, and this iteration was a stand-out at the 2026 regional wine show, winning the trophy for best white wine. It begins with an attractive field grass and cut hay sense in the aromatics, then citrus creams – grapefruit and lemon – with a wildly exciting fruit-sweet burst of yellow citrus flavour, zest and juice, supported by genuine depth and complexity. Texturally rich as well with fine finishing pithiness, this is an absolutely delicious example of Fiano if you have never tried one. And great value.