2016 Shiraz The Freedom 1843

Langmeil’s Freedom 1843 Shiraz, which is sourced from a vineyard that was planted in, guess when, is one of Australia’s true icon wines, with availability to match. In the grand scheme of things, it’s actually quite fairly priced when one considers the going rate for many of its peers. But the entire range here is strong, especially at the entry-level, where some superb values can be found. Stylistically, winemaker Paul Lindner favors a relatively elegant style for the region, with balance and energy prized over weight and power. Not that these are shy wines. There’s no lack of flavor intensity, but ripeness, as well as oak influence, tends to be dialed back.