Bob McDonald

9.6

The final wine at the Yarra Yering dinner in Brisbane last Thursday night 3rd October 2024 with winemaker Sarah Crowe. Fitting that Dry Red No. 1 should be the final wine - arguably the Jewel in the Crown. Initial aromatic impressions are gorgeous. This is the 50th vintage of Dry Red No. 1. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Brief notes - blackberry, aniseed and bay leaf. A medium bodied Cabernet with M+ intensity and finishing with fine boned tannin structure. Power with poise, concentration with finesse. Will live for 20 years plus. I have been buying on an irregular basis for many years. The 1990 was a highlight. I asked Sarah, who was Chairman of the Royal Sydney Wine Show this year to compare 3 of the main Cabernet producing areas in Australia - Yarra Valley leafy fragrance, Coonawarra Mint, and Margaret River herbaceousness. At Restaurant Dan Arnold. — 7 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

See 4 previous notes on Delectable for the 2015 Primavera. This is my last bottle. The whole bunch stalky elements have toned down in the last few years. More balanced with the red fruits. Perhaps that was Steve Flamsteed’s plan and it needed to be cellared for at least 9 years.? — 8 months ago

Dawn E.

9.3

Superior Chardonnay from Australia! Layers of character..lemon, lime, golden delicious apples, white flowers, minerals, thirst quenching acidity...on and on! Drinking this with a slight chill! Just a fabulous wine! — 4 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.2

Memorial Day Weekend 2018 🇺🇸

Crazy juice...

Oak (light), acidic blackberry, blueberry skin, moist cedar, nice stuff. Revisit 2025+ — 6 years ago

Jeremy Pollard

9.2

Glorious nose. Full, broad palate. Stone fruit, lees, dried apple, grapefruit and a savoury, flinty element. — 7 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.3

So much spice and everything nice.
Just going for gold with the everyday drinkers at the moment. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

At the Yarra Yering dinner in Brisbane last Thursday 3rd October 2024 with winemaker Sarah Crowe. A blend of Shiraz, Viognier, Mataro and Marsanne. The original vineyards of Shiraz and Marsanne were established in 1969 with additional vineyards of Mataro and Viognier planted from 1984 to 1995. A lovely red berried perfume (raspberry) with some stalks added back in. Interestingly some fermenters have added frozen Viognier skins to the bottom, some have Marsanne skins. Sarah is always wanting to push the envelope with her winemaking. A classic Rhone style, blended with perfume in mind. Red wine of the year from the Halliday Wine Companion and awarded 99 points from Philip Rich from that publication. — 7 months ago

Ross Bathgate

9.5

Amazing! Medium bodied and silky smooth, layers and layers of spice with chocolate. — 8 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Brief notes. Sweet red fruits - raspberry and strawberry. Whole bunch influence. An excellent Yarra Valley Pinot Noir with a proven track record but at the end of the day Applejack Vineyard is marginally in front of Sexton Vineyard IMO. — 9 months ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.0

V17. Pretty good... opaque color. Smokey nose. Substantial black cherry fruit. Black pepper, chocolate and earthy finish. Nicely balanced . — 4 years ago

Johnno Harris

9.5

On the improve perhaps? Really lovely. Acid ingrained with other phenolic and textural elements. Fine yet generous in flavour. Ripe stone fruit and the kernel. First class. 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽 — 6 years ago

Johnno Harris

9.2

Awesome entry level Pinot. Tremendous value. Great uncomplicated Pinot from a ripping Yarra Valley vintage. — 7 years ago

P A

9.0

Smooth Australian 🇦🇺 from the Yarra Valley with a steak after a day on the Elk River it just doesn't get any better. Cheers 🍷13.0 % — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

At the Yarra Yering dinner last Thursday night with winemaker, Sarah Crowe. YY was one of the first vineyards in Australia to make an excellent Pinot Noir. I remember buying a dozen of the 1986 - long since gone of course. Made by the late Dr Bailey Carrodus. A mixed planting of 4 clones in 1969. Red fruited with a touch of violets. 30% in new French barrels with the balance in used oak. The over riding lasting impression is its silky texture. — 7 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

At the Yarra Yering dinner last Thursday 3rd October 2024. Brief notes. I have been a fan of Yarra Valley Chardonnay for many years. There wouldn’t be many older blocks than these 2 YY blocks planted in 1969. Showing the flinty modern trend. White flowers - a good combination of citrus and stone fruit. Oak use is not overdone - the wine achieving great balance. Very good. — 7 months ago

Johnno Harris

9.5

Still very good. Nice and tight. Primary fruit starting to fade and evolve. Delicious! — 8 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

See previous notes here in 2018 and 2019. An excellent Chardonnay but probably prefer the Applejack and Sexton Vineyards for Chardonnay. — 9 months ago

Scott Rowe

9.1

Not my cup of tea today but a nice wine nonetheless. — 5 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

8.9

2nd go round on this guy. A light garnet in color. Very subtle nose. A lighter style Pinot that was very complimentary to our salmon. More of a delightful experience the second time around. — 6 years ago

Tom Donegan

Sommelier Stokehouse

9.5

Powerful, tense, boney structure. Will be long lived. — 7 years ago