Toolangi Pauls Lane Chardonnay
Spicy, faintly floral aromas of stone fruit, grapefruit, lime juice and coriander are backed by matchstick-like oak and a hint of mineral. It's round and creamy, smooth and voluptuous, with a gentle, mouthfilling core of flavour and nougat-like complexity finishing with a hint of butter, gentle lemony acids and a faint smokiness. Crushed and pressed with full solids straight to oak (20% new), both primary fermentation and malolactic were natural. Elevage: 8 months on lees in oak before being racked and filtered in preparation for bottling. Hand-picked on 12th March 2018 First established in 1995, Toolangi Vineyards is located in the Yarra Valley adjoining the Toolangi State Forest. This Chardonnay is grown on fine clay loam and produces grapes which represent the unique site. Low cropped and hand harvested from 23 year old vines of I1OV3 clone grapes on D Block rows 35 55. The 2018 harvest will be remembered fondly by winemakers in the Yarra Valley. It was a rare season that gave above average yields and excellent quality fruit. Dry sunny conditions with cool overnight temperatures provided good natural acidity and concentrated wines at lower alcohol levels.
Jamsheed Seville Yarra Valley Syrah
Sourced from a vineyard nestled in the foothills of the cool southern vales of the Yarra Valley where the grey loam soils show seams of deep red volcanic clay, the 2015 Seville syrah is handpicked, fermented with a high proportion of whole bunches and receives no additions other than a small amount of sulphur dioxide at picking and bottling. It is then aged in older French barrels before being bottled unfiltered and unfined.
Garagiste Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay
Hand harvested, hand sorted & whole bunch pressed. Natural fermentation is on high solids with partial malolactic. Barrel fermented in 500-litre puncheons (20% new François Frères), the wine is matured on lees for 10 months before bottling.A bright & punchy Chardonnay; Lemon & grapefruit citrus. Sherbert. Spicy oak. slight lees funkiness. A good lengthy finish.
Garagiste Tuerong Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay
Grapes sourced from the 6-acre Robinson vineyard where the 25-year-old vines are rooted in black sand over brown sandy loam. North-facing site, harvested early on the 18th February. Warmer & more stable microclimate here generates a fleshier, more satin textured wine. The early harvest & partial malo provide the requisite mouthwatering crunch.A powerful & intense Chardonnay. Bright citrus & stonefruit, fig, spiced oak, flint, almost cider-like characters. Striking acidity & a lengthy finish.
Yarra Yering Dry White No 1
This white blend's aroma includes some beeswax complexity and preserved lemon peel lift. Red apple skin and creamy white peach. The palate has crunchy red apple freshness and delicious passionfruit tropical fruits. The small amount of skin contact gives a textural wine and encouraged structure through tannins. The length is dominated by the Semillon and driven by a bright acid tang that would stand up to a variety of food pairings.
Oakridge Sparkling Blanc De Blancs
Very fine persistent bead. Straw coloured and vibrant, fresh hue. Fruit aromas of pear flesh and grilled grapefruit intermingle with brioches and freshly baked sourdough. Light toasty elements and slight yoghurt notes add complexity and depth. The palate is creamy and textural with delicate web of acidity interwoven throughout. Cream, yeast, granny smooth apples and butter pastry flavours flow along before finishing with a preserved lemon-like tang.
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.
Oakridge Wines 864 Winery Block Cabernet Sauvignon
OAKRIDGE WINES 864 Winery Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Yarra Valley
Oakridge 864 Syrah
The 864 range of wines by David Bicknell at Oakridge showcase the very best vineyards at the disposal of this talented winemaker. The 864 Syrah is sourced from a vineyard that is located at the foot of the Warramate Hills at Coldstream and face due north, taking full advantage of the cool Yarra Valley sunlight. The soils are built on grey-loam alluvial with both high clay and ironstone content. This results in a Syrah that displays a bright purple colour in the glass which is followed up with aromas of ripe red fruit and subtle anise. The palate has a core of sweet Shiraz fruit showing red and black berries and a tannin structure that is both velvety and smooth.
Kooyong Chardonnay
Sandro Mosele continues to take Kooyong's estate wines to heights unseen for the price. Focus, linear acidity and supreme elegance are all hallmarks of Sandro's work and all can be seen here. Along with great precision, comes lovely fruit characters also that work with a whole range of Asian-fusion cuisine.