Yarra Yering, Chardonnay, Yarra Valley, 2018, 75cl

Yarra Yering, Chardonnay, Yarra Valley, 2018, 75clAlthough wine was an important industry in the Yarra Valley throughout the 1800s, by the 1920s it had largely halted as farmers favoured the greater returns available from sheep farming. It took the vision of a now legendary plant physiologist and Roseworthy winemaking graduate, Dr Bailey Carrodus, to help re establish the Yarra Valley as one of Australias preeminent wine regions. It was during his years studying at Queens College, Oxford that Dr

Although wine was an important industry in the Yarra Valley throughout

the 1800s, by the 1920s it had largely halted as farmers favoured the

greater returns available from sheep farming. It took the vision of a now

legendary plant physiologist and Roseworthy winemaking graduate,

Dr Bailey Carrodus, to help re-establish the Yarra Valley as one of

Australia’s preeminent wine regions. It was during his years studying at

Queen’s College, Oxford that Dr Carrodus’ wine philosophy was formed.

Here he encountered the renowned wines of the Old World that were

staples of the college cellars and these inspired him to visit the leading

wineries of France, Spain, Italy and Portugal to study their production.

He carried this knowledge with him and after taking up a position

at Melbourne University, he set his mind on finding the ideal site to

produce his own wines in a similar style to those he had grown to love.

After several years of careful research, he settled on the Yarra Valley as

the ideal site and in 1969 he purchased land at the foot of the

Warramate Hills. Here, the gentle slope with its northerly aspect and

deep grey silty loam shot through with bands of gravel fulfilled all of

his requirements: good drainage, all-day exposure to the warm sun,

and enough elevation from the valley floor to avoid the spring frosts.

He named his vineyard Yarra Yering and in 1973 produced the first

vintages of his now iconic Dry Red Wine No. 1 and Dry Red Wine No. 2.

Dr Carrodus continued to make the wines until his death in 2008, when

the winery was purchased by businessmen Ed Peter and Reid Bosward.

As long-term fans of Yarra Yering, they continue to honour the founder’s

quest for elegance and sophistication, ably supported by winemaker

Sarah Crowe, who in 2017 was named Winemaker of the Year by James

Halliday.

Hand-harvested grapes placed in a blast chiller overnight

before whole bunch pressing gave very high quality

juice. 24 hours’ settling before transfer to French oak

barrels: some 228L barriques and some 500L puncheons,

with 30% new oak. Both wild yeasts and cultured yeast

were allowed to carry out the fermentation, offering

complexity and a hint of struck match. Natural acidity

was retained by inhibiting malolactic fermentation.

Maturation for 10 months in the cool underground cellar

before blending and bottling.

Bright and flinty oyster shell nose with grapefruits,

pears and lemongrass. A hint of vanilla oak brings a

sweet perfume.

Finesse combined with pillowy fruit weight, this is a

wine that is fine boned with citrus flavours dominating

in its youth. A citrus energy drives the palate with

a pithy interest and texture on the back palate. An

extremely fine-grained oak tannin framework lingers

on the finish.