Description
Yarra Yering is one of the oldest and most beautiful vineyards in the Yarra Valley of Victoria, consisting of 28 hectares of vines located at the foot of the Warramate Hills in the Gruyere district. Dr Bailey Carrodus established the winery in 1969 and is credited as one of the driving forces in reviving winemaking in this region. The 1973 vintage saw the production of the first vintage of Dry Red Wines – No’s 1 & 2, two of this country’s greatest wines, both featuring in Langton’s classification of Australian wines. Yarra Yering quickly gained an international reputation for quality and individuality and for the next 35 years Dr Carrodus made his wines to great critical and commercial success. The unirrigated vines produce elegant, complex and powerful wines. Approachable in their youth they have the ability to develop in the bottle for many years.
Within only three years of taking the helm at Yarra Yering, winemaker Sarah Crowe received one of the wine industry’s highest honours, named “Winemaker of the Year” for 2017 by Australia’s most respected wine writer and critic, James Halliday – “She has done a fabulous job with what was her first full vintage. Just an amazing, amazing job.” Sarah is the first woman to receive this award with two Yarra Yering vintage red wines receiving 99 points and four vintage red wines received 98 out of a possible 100 points.
About the 2018 vintage: A late start to harvest due to good rainfall and a cool to mild summer without any heat spikes to advance ripeness. Picking lasted 10 weeks, at a leisurely pace, delivering grapes with beautiful flavour development coupled with good acid retention. “It was a warmer year but with good yields and also good vine canopies to protect the fruit from the sun. The vines were well balanced without much manipulation.” – Sarah Crowe.
Fruit was sourced from the Agincourt block of (75%) Cabernet Sauvignon planted in 1995 and (25%) Malbec planted in 1990. The Agincourt block is one of the more sheltered sites and this Cabernet clone is highly aromatic and lifted.
Hand harvested, transferred across a sorting table, de-stemmed and then crushed into the half-tonne open fermenters. Hand plunged twice daily with some extended time on skins to soften the Cabernet tannins. Maturation in French Bordeaux shaped barrels; only 5% new oak to enhance the juicy fruit palate and immediate enjoyment.
Perfume is the signature of this wine with lifted bramble, redcurrant and mixed berry fruits. Bright fruit flavours include cranberry, mulberries and blueberries. Fresh cut box hedge bringing a leafy lift and many tannins and clove spices dance with vibrant acidity and an elegant fruit drive. The Malbec brings an energy and bright crunch to the wine. The aromatics and accessible fruit palate make this a deliciously approachable Cabernet blend.
95 points, Campbell Mattinson for 2021 Halliday Wine Companion ‘A wine of absolute charm. It’s a 75/25% blend in Cabernet’s favour though it presents as a seamless whole. Blackcurrant, mulberry, roasted nut and fresh briar flavours come brightened by redcurrant. Tannin has melted in, clean acidity keeps it all fresh and true, the finish feels assured. It will age gracefully and (very) well.”
93 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front “Lovely drinking, easy drinking, lots of easy pleasure, plush and soft tannins a feature, mulberry and boysenberry fruit too. Joyous kind of feel, uplifting, fleshy and cuddly, with barley there tannins doing just enough alongside some sprigs of dried herb for detail and added interest, the finish just slightly too lemony tangy sherbetty. Surprisingly lush in profile, flesh and puddles of bombastic character and easy to enjoy. Nice.”
RRP $113 OUR PRICE $99.99
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