2017 Yarra Yering Dry Red No 1 750ml

The Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 1 2017 features aromas of dark berry fruits and some sage adding a background herbal lift. Oak spice is evident but all in balance with the fruit. The palate shows power and restraint at the same time, the iron fist in a velvet glove. Beautiful fruit, a bright acid drive and tannins that form a solid foundation for the long future. Brooding but not intimidating, this is always exciting to watch evolve.

Winemaker, Sarah Crowe, is kicking major goals at the famous Yarra Valley estate, Yarra Yering. Here she weaves her magic with some of the valleys oldest Pinot Noir vines, planted by Dr. Bailey Carrodous in 1969. Gorgeous black and red cherry fruits, violets, spice and light heral notes dance seamlessly on the nose and palate. Silky, complex, elegant and delightful drinking with pitch-perfect balance and an impressive length.

A classic blend of 70% cabernet sauvignon, 18% merlot, 8% malbec and 4% petit verdot. Hand-picked and sorted, crushed and destemmed, open-fermented, on skins for up to a month, matured for 12 months in French oak (35% new). This is the serious side of ’17. The aromas and flavours are still fresh and vibrant, but the palate, in particular, brooks no argument: this is a wine for protracted cellaring to allow the whipcord-tight structure to relax its grip. James Halliday