Langmeil Winery 'Jackaman's' Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley, Australia, 2009

For the eight consecutive year Langmeil winery has retained its Five Red Star rating in James Hallidays Australian Wine Companion placing it in the top 5% of premium Australian winemakers. A Five Red Star rating indicates an outstanding winery regularly producing wines of exemplary quality and typicity reaffirming Langmeil`s status as one of Australia`s finest producers

Langmeil Jackaman's Cabernet Sauvignon 2009. 91 Points.

"Deep crimson colour, excellent for the vintage; a well made wine, with juicy blackcurrant fruit and no heat; the house style hint of sweetness works well here, leading to a rising cadence on the finish..." James Halliday Australian Wine Companion, 2011 Edition

Langmeil Jackaman's Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 91 points - Outstanding

"Matured for 2 years in French oak hogsheads, 60% new, the 2009 Jackamans Cabernet Sauvignon gives a deep garnet-purple color and a pronounced perfume of cassis and violets over nuances of earth, toast, cigar boxes and chocolate, plus touches of menthol and bay leaf. Full bodied and richly fruited in the mouth, it has very lively acid and a medium to firm level of fine grained tannins, finishing long. Drink this one now to 2020+." Click here to download presenter. Lisa Perrotti Brown MW, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (USA), February 2012

750ml.

14.5% Vol.

Jackaman's vineyard is home to Langmeil Winery's finest and rarest Cabernet Sauvignon, planted in the 1960s during the Cabernet revolution in the Barossa. This vineyard was lovingly tended by the colourful Barossan Arthur Jackaman, a World War II paratrooper, boxer, and butcher who, in retirement, passed his small plot into Langmeil Winery's care.

As impressive as it might read, you can only say so much within the restrictive word count of a label, so I'd like to share an anecdote that captures a little more of Arthur's spirit. Like many good stories, our tale takes place in a pub, specifically the Tibooburra Family Hotel in the corner country of far northwest New South Wales. The words are taken from a police witness statement regarding an incident on voting day, May 29th, 1954, which saw a disgruntled patron leave the bar and return with a 30-calibre automatic American service rifle.

'As he approached the main entrance, he started shooting in a reckless and random manner. Ken Thompson from Mt Stuart station was shot in the back, and a ricochet hit George Begg's daughter in the leg. As he came into the Tap Room, he fired more shots. It was obvious he had little control of the rifle by the pattern of the bullet holes in the wall above the fireplace. On seeing him enter, Arthur Jackaman grabbed a bar stool to use as a weapon; however, hearing the rifle click, he sensed the magazine must be empty, so he wrestled it from him and dragged him into the street, proceeding to the lock-up and having to fend off a good many others who wanted to deal with him along the way.'

This was an act we consider worthy of record. Fittingly, like the man himself, the wine named in Arthur's honour is deep in character, rich in history and full of surprises for those who get to know it over time.