Nocturne

Are his winemaking skills and palate on par with the greats of the 20th century? It’s a question without an answer. But if he is to be compared with the best of today, the answer is an emphatic yes. His wine show successes (and the team he has led) have gold medals flying around the room like confetti, with trophies (including the biggest of all, the Jimmy Watson) equally plentiful. And most of all, he is universally admired and liked by all who have had contact with him and/or the great wines he makes. JAMES HALLIDAY

Julian Langworthy is a man who wears many hats. His day job is chief winemaker at Deep Woods Estate, one of the regions modern success stories. In his spare time (of which I don’t think he has much these days) he produces his own label Nocturne, who’s star is very quickly rising, where he produces Chardonnay, Cabernet and one of my personal favourite Roses. When he isn’t making wine he is spending a lot of hours helping the industry as a wine judge.

The man has earned a few feathers for those caps recently. He was named the Winemaker of the Year in James Halliday’s Wine Companion. He won the 2016 Jimmy Watson Trophy, arguably the most important award in Australian wine. Along the way he has collected a gargantuan haul of medals, awards and press. It is not a stretch to say that Julian is one of this country’s most gifted wine people and this is shines through in his Nocturne wines. ROSCOE