Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 1 2019 375ml

Established and first planted in 1969 by Dr Bailey Carrodus, the unirrigated vines at Yarra Yerings Yarra Valley vineyard produce elegant, complex and powerful wines. Approachable as young wines, they have the ability to develop in the bottle for many years. Yarra Yering is one of Australia’s most iconic wineries and quickly gained an international reputation for quality and individuality and for the next 35 years.

Dr Carrodus passed at home in September 2008 and the vineyard was subsequently sold to two businessman, both passionate Yarra Yering fans. They have continued to operate this iconic vineyard with the same philosophy. Yarra Yering’s proud tradition is being continued to great acclaim by current winemaker Sarah Crowe. Sarah, who was recently named James Halliday’s 2017 Winemaker of the Year, focuses on giving individual blocks and varieties the time and attention they deserve to continue making high-quality wine.

The first plantings at Yarra Yering into block No. 1 were these Cabernet vines and the name was born. The Malbec was also part of the original 1969 plantings. Some Merlot vines are interplanted with the Cabernet with subsequent plantings made in 1990 on the newly acquired neighbouring land. Petit verdot is now only grown on the hillside of the new territories.

Upon bottling this wine looks and tastes shy, needing some bottle maturation to unfurl. Under suitable cellaring conditions it will evolve for 20+ years if you wish to show restraint, otherwise choose  your occasion and enjoy!

The first plantings at YY into block No 1 were these cabernet and malbec vines, hence the name. Some merlot was interplanted with the cabernet and subsequent plantings in 1990 from a newly acquired neighbouring site. Petit verdot is only grown on the hillside of the new territories. All hand harvested and sorted, only the very best berries go into this wine. Cabernet berries sorted individually before crushed. Merlot, malbec and petit verdot are whole-berry ferments. All fermented in half-tonne fermenters, hand plunged twice daily. Some of the cabernet spends more time on skins. Components are kept separate in French oak 40% new, 15 months all up then blended just before bottling. This is mesmerising. Do take time to bask in its fragrance – all floral and spicy with some aniseed and fresh herbs. Enjoy the poised fruit flavours of blackberries, mulberries and a hint of blueberries coated in spicy oak and tethered to the body of the wine. Pulsing acidity and beautiful tannin structure shape this and offer a promise of more to come in time. Wow – what a wine. Drink by 2039. - Jane Faulkner, James Halliday's Wine Companion, January 2021, 98 Points 

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Cabernet Sauvignon 67% Merlot 15% Malbec 12% Petit Verdot 6%
Country - Australia
Region - Yarra Valley, Victoria
Vintage - 2019
Bottle Size - 375ml
ABV - 13.5%