Medium cherry-red colour with purple tints. Red cherries and raspberries leap from the glass, underneath a hint of dust and spice. Medium to full-bodied, there's distinct fruit intensity that is matched to complexing layers of sweet spices and curing meats. That intensity is matched to a firm but well-poised tannic profile, giving great length and drive to the finish. Magnificent drinking now and will only get better over time.
96 points, The Real Review (March 2021)
Sourced from the Henk Vineyard, this is a fresh and lively pinot with strawberry and wild red-cherry aromas, as well as sappy and spicy notes. Some pastry, too. The palate is built on finely layered and well-groomed tannins that craft an expressive build to the cherry-soaked finish.
96 points, JamesSuckling.com (June 2021)
Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley was first planted by the Ryrie brothers who explored a way through the Snowy Mountains to the Yarra Valley, planting grapes in 1838 just three years after the foundation of Melbourne. A wine industry (developed by Swiss Settlers particularly Hubert de Castella and Baron Guillaume de Pury in the 1850s) thrived during the gold rush era and heyday of the 19th century. However, the end of the gold rush brought the wine industry into decline and it was not until the 1970’s that the modern wine industry started up again. The region is probably Australia’s best-known cool-climate area, yet it is really a patchwork of meso-climates. This varied topography creates an incredible set of variables. Vineyards are planted on elevations of 50 to 400m on varying aspects and management programmes. The more exposed sites are subject to severe spring frosts and winds. Overall, the area experiences a relatively high rainfall pattern and is known for its temperature extremes during ripening. Site selection is crucial, with the best vineyards often located where the original vines were once planted, generally on sandy clay loams and gravels. The Yarra Valley is well known for high quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Blends with Shiraz increasingly garnering attention. Sparkling wine production is also extremely important, with many of Australia’s finest examples produced in the region.