Punt Road Shiraz
One of the Yarra Valley's up and comers, the Punt Road Shiraz is almost black in colour with aromas of cassis and a whiff of licquorice. A palate of plush plums and blackcurrant follows with flash of peppery spice. Kate Goodman continues to do a stellar job at one of the Yarra Valley's best wineries.
Chandon Vintage Brut
Chandon Vintage Brut is a fine elegant sparkling produced from grapes sourced from multiple cool-climate regions, with a slant towards quality Yarra Valley fruit. A reductive, flinty aroma overlays quince, nashi pear, pine nut, citrus blossom and lemon zest. Toasty brioche and chalky mineral aromas present in the background. An excellent palate, with primary fruits of tangy lemon and kaffir lime, backed up by secondary flavours of fresh pastry. Tightly wound acidity with remarkable freshness.
Soumah Pinot Grigio
Soumah, named for its location 'South of Maroondah Highway', specialise in quality clonal selection. This latest Pinot Grigio is one to get your hands on. Textural, from time on lees, figs and pear show through with a hint of musk. - Bri, Vintage Cellars Little Bourke Street.
Soumah Hexham Chardonnay
Of all the premium white wines we sampled last year; it was the Soumah Hexham Chardonnay that rose to the top. This top class Yarra Valley Chardonnay features the perfect amount of oak and a moreish creaminess. Produced from small single vineyard plantings in the Warramate foothills of the Yarra Valley, Soumah Hexham Chardonnay is brilliant now but patience will be rewarded if cellared up to 5 years if you can keep your hands off it that long. One of the real movers and shakers of the industry in recent times, Soumah is without a doubt one to keep a very close eye on. This is a super complex and extremely alluring example. Produced from small single vineyard plantings in the Warramate foothills of the Yarra Valley, outstanding fruit quality works hand in hand with barrel derived complexities. This complexity around a mid to full bodied core lends its self just perfectly to seafood with the traditional butter sauce accompaniment.
Tarrawarra Estate Pinot Noir Rose
This wine is grown, picked and made to be elegant in style, with lifted strawberry Pinot Noir aromas. It is dry, yet succulent wine with fresh acidity and fine texture. A lovely aperitif enjoyed on its own or with lighter foods such as antipasto, pâté or fresh summer seafood.
Luke Lambert Syrah
Its fair to say Luke Lambert hasn't looked back since 'relocating' his Syrah to the Tibooburra vineyard. This southwest sloping site lies in the southeastern corner of the Valley, near Gembrook, and might be the coolest microclimate of the Yarra. The site is expertly managed by Greg Kerr, the grower who planted the vineyard in 2001. The soils here are considered very unusual for the Yarra, comprising a seam of black volcanic topsoil over yellow clay with a smattering of granite rock throughout. Furthermore, the quality of the clonal material in Tibooburra supplies Lambert with deeper and darker Syrah fruit that also has more depth and structure. This is what drew him to the site and a good chunk of the reason the Syrah has become a touchstone example of cool-climate Yarra Shiraz.
Louis Bouillot Perle de Vigne Grand Reserve Non-Vintage
Mandala Estate Pinot Noir
A bright and complex aromatic profile displaying notes of pomegranate, dried strawberry, star anise and cranberry intermingle with hints of blue fruit, crushed violet, fresh tobacco and truffle. A finely structured palate offers both textural generosity and clarity of fruit expression. Red currant, dark cherry and cinnamon raspberry characters integrate well with supportive oak spice. Refreshing natural acidity gives the wine drive and line leading into a long and persistent finish.
Rob Dolan White Label Cabernet Sauvignon
Wine Notes Colour deep crimson purple Aroma cassis, blackberry, spicy black fruits, cedar Palate dark red fruits, rich texture, savoury tannins + bay leaf Cellar up to 10 years After a lifetime of making wine for others, Rob decided to launch his own label in 2010. After purchasing Hardys Yarra Burn winery, Rob produced his first vintage in 2012. Rob's philosophy is 'Real people, real wine, real character,' and he produces wines to reflect this. Rob Dolan Wines strive to make fruit-driven, approachable, fresh and distinctly varietal wine styles that over-deliver in terms of quality and price and appeal to a wide market.