The best

• red wine
• white wine
• champagne
• rosé
• whisky
• spirits
• beer

deals in Australia

A new single-site Chardonnay into the Mac Forbes range, the Yarra Junction is a more generous Chardonnay from this leading Yarra producer.

This single-vineyard wine represents our first steps in exploring the clonal possibilities for extending and enhancing the future prospects for continued premium Chardonnay production on the Yarra Valley floor in a warming climate. Incorporating a lead from the historic practice of the warm region southern Rhône Valley whereby complementary companion varieties are blended together to provide further structure, harmony and complexity, we have incorporated a small percentage of Grenache Blanc in this first point of our learning curve. The wine walks a measured line between tension and weight, sinew and silk. Aromas of white nectarine, Makrut leaf, lime marmalade, nashi pear, jasmine bud, pyrethrum daisy, creamed macadamia and marzipan abound. The palate walks a fine line of tautness and relief, featuring grapefruit pith, lemon thyme, nougat and Artemesia, Weighted and moreish tactile phenolics help draw the palate to a long finish.

Pale straw-green with a super-fine bead. This is very composed and complex, the 6 years on lees producing an array of different notes, some related to fruit others to that extended lees ageing. Sourdough crust, buttery pastry, green apples, toast, candied peel, white pepper and lime leaf all vie for attention. The palate reflects these flavours but also reveals stone fruit notes and a green apple crunchiness. The finish dry and savoury, the lemon-citrus acidity teasing out the length. A complex, refined wine that has depth of flavour, weight, texture and above all freshness.

The wine is cloudy with a rose gold colour. Orange zest & potpourri dominate on the nose and palate. This wine is all about the grip and texture and is the perfect wine to accompany food, especially rich, fatty foods. The wine is initially quite shy in the glass so give it some time to open up.

Nestled within the upper reaches of the valley at a high elevation is an entirely secluded vineyard, the home of Yow Yow - 120 acres with 80 acres under vines covering 9 different grape varieties of which some go back 35 years.