Region: Yarra Valley Grapes: Shiraz 96%, Viognier 2%, Marsanne 1%, Mataro 1% First Glance: Deeply Layered, Fine yet Firm, Exotic Spice, Dense Fruit Acclaim: 96pts
The Wine: Fruit was hand-picked, transferred across a sorting table and destemmed directly to the Yarra Yering half-tonne open-fermenters. As much whole berry as possible is retained to encourage perfume. A portion of fermenters had frozen Viognier skins added to the bottom. The wine was aged for 15 months in French oak barriques, 30% new before blending and bottling.
A complex and layered wine; sweet and savoury all at once. The fragrance is a melting pot of violets, plums, savoury spices and a whiff of bramble and five spice. Moderate in weight; the summer pudding fruits come in all colours dialling up the flavour interest. There is cigar box and cardamom spice lending intrigue. Firm yet fine tannins ably support the fruit and texture drive the palate. This one is hard to put in a box, there is so much to love.
The Review: Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion - 96pts "A deep, bright crimson. Ripe with dark fruits, spice rack spices and a gentle waft of cedar. A rich, ripe mouthful of wine with firm, classic, old-school Yarra Yering tannins. An interesting contrast between this, the Underhill Shiraz and the Carrodus Shiraz, the No. 2 red may end up being the most long-lived of this terrific trio in 2021."
