Nocturne is the project of Julian Langworthy and his wife Alana Langworthy, built on a shared commitment to expressing Margaret River through carefully chosen vineyard sites. Julian, Margaret River–born and raised, developed an early familiarity with vineyards through his father’s work with the Agricultural Protection Board. An initial interest in marine biology eventually gave way to winemaking, followed by formal study and experience in France and Canada, as well as Australia’s Clare Valley, Barossa Valley and Coonawarra.
Those years of travel and work eventually brought Julian back to Margaret River, and to a desire for a more personal, small-scale expression of the place he knows best. Nocturne grew from that impulse. It is a tightly focused project centred on single-vineyard and sub-regional wines from carefully selected sites, produced in modest volumes and with a clear emphasis on site and season.
Alongside Nocturne, Julian serves as Chief Winemaker for Fogarty Wine Group, overseeing stylistic direction across the group’s portfolio. He has also led the evolution of Deep Woods Estate since 2011, where his work has contributed to a steady rise in quality and profile. His wines have been recognised with numerous major awards, including the Jimmy Watson Trophy and being named James Halliday’s Winemaker of the Year in 2019.
Cabernet Sauvignon sits at the centre of Julian’s thinking, and of Nocturne. A key source is the Sheoak Vineyard, home to mature Cabernet vines that form the backbone of several wines in the range. The focus is not on scale, but on finding and working with sites that consistently deliver balance, structure and detail.
The Nocturne wines are restrained in style. They favour clarity, proportion and drinkability over overt impact, with an underlying aim of expressing Margaret River with honesty and precision. Taken together, they offer a direct view of Julian Langworthy’s approach today.
Thoughtful, measured wines, firmly grounded in place.