Ample and dark fruited, with a smoky, savoury feel. Plenty of spice amid the berry fruits, with lovely earthy and graphite notes running through. Predominantly from Garagiste's Balnarring, Tuerong and Merricks vineyards, with a small proportion of Red Hill fruit. The grapes were sorted then destemmed--a small percentage of the Merricks portion was fermented with a 100% whole bunches--and fermented in small open fermenters using indigenous yeast, minimal hand plunging and spending 25 days on skins. The wine was aged for ten months in 10% new hogsheads with the balance being raised in older hogsheads. Unfined and unfiltered. Barnaby Flanders created the Garagiste label following his amicable split with Allies co-founder David Chapman (who continues with the Allies label). Barney now focuses on a snug range of small-batch wines from fruit sourced from the highly prized Merricks Grove vineyard, the Silverwood vineyard (Balnarring), and the Hugh Robinson vineyard in Moorooduc. Garagiste, the main label, is ably supported by delicious entry-level wines under the Le Stagiaire banner. Barnaby and Cam (Marshall) manage all aspects of the viticulture and winemaking themselves and a range of succulent, finely tuned and elegantly crafted cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is what results.

Hand plunged in open fermenters, 30% whole bunch. 10 months maturation in 20% new French barriques, 80% seasoned French barriques. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.Ripe red cherries, some nutmeg spice. Aromatics lifted by subtle whole bunch fermentation plushness. Rich, structured palate.

YARRA BURN Pinot Noir-Chardonnay-Pinot Meunier, Yarra Valley

Once again this producer provides us with a handy little number showing plenty of varietal and regional characteristics. Sticks Pinot Noir from Yarra Valley, features lovely red cherry flavours with playfull spices and charry oak influence. Lean with subtle tannins and medium finish.

This Chardonnay Pinot noir sparkling wine from Airlie Bank has aromas of citrus fruits and subtle apricot, complemented by a doughy, bready complexity. Fresh and vibrant with a focused palate structure of apple blossom and citrus characters with complex brioche notes.