Yarra Yering Underhill Shiraz 2015

Product Information: From the west most vineyard, a single block of 1973-planted shiraz. Underhill produces a more savoury set of flavours, at just 100m away from No.2, the two wines are remarkably different. We can’t decided between which one we like better. The 2015 Underhill Shiraz was rated 95 points by the Real Review both upon its 2017 release and again in 2023, highlighting its immediate appeal and strong aging potential. The wine Shiraz has not budged, retaining its purple hue, dark aromas of black fruit, dark chocolate, while the palate is still fruit driven with a velvety smooth texture. One could say, earth and exotic spice notes, are slightly more apparent. Still it has a long journey ahead, with many stops to savour its goodness. Maker: In 1969, Dr Bailey Carrodus re-established winemaking in Yarra Valley in Victoria, picking up from where it left in mid-1800s to the 1920s. He completed degrees in horticulture and winemaking and studied in France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Dr Carrodus found a vineyard site in the Yarra Valley and produced wine in the style he loved. After his passing, the vineyard was sold to two businessmen who carried on his legacy and pathed the way to becoming one of the region’s oldest and most respected wineries. From 2013 the coveted role of winemaker and general manager went to Sarah Crowe who was named James Halliday’s 2017 Winemaker of the Year. Sarah makes elegant, acclaimed wines, but humbly credits the vineyard as the true hero. Vineyard: At Yarra Yering, all fruit is hand-picked in the cool of the morning into 10kg picking buckets and delivered directly to the winery. The fruit is then sorted and either destemmed or crushed into traditional tea chest 0.5-tonne open-fermenters. Depending on the variety, stalks may be added back during the fermentation stage in baskets for easy removal when there is just enough stalk tannin present. The 70 acres of vines at Yarra Yering are grown without irrigation on a northerly slope at the foot of the Warramate hills. The vines benefit from good drainage, all-day exposure to the sun, and enough elevation from the valley floor to avoid spring frosts. This produces wines that are inherently balanced, precise, and elegant. The low yield of 1-2 tons per acre results in fruit with great intensity and concentration of flavour, as well as an abundance of natural acidity. Nose – Charred Oak, Spiced Dark Fruits, Mocha Powder Scents of game meat, char, blood pudding, macerated cherries, mocha powder. Palate – Macerated Cherries, Blood Pudding, Exotic Spice The palate is soft, sighs with cherry and exotic spice, earthiness, silky tannins. Finish – Rich Earth, Berries, Oak Spices With depth and gravitas and a bit more muscle than the Dry Red No. 2. This is a serious shiraz, which should age superbly and long. Medium-depth ruby, with a light purple tint on the rim; darker aromas including chocolate, charred oak and background spice; a vegetal note too; the wine is medium-full bodied and the texture plush as silk, and there is a kick of acidity on the middle palate, well within balance. A beautiful and delicious shiraz. (2023) – Huon Hooke, The Real Review, 95 Points. Deep red colour with a good purple tint and a rich earth and spice aroma, with a hint of smoke. The palate is full-bodied and firmly structured, with depth and gravitas and a bit more muscle than the Dry Red No. 2. This is a serious shiraz, which should age superbly and long. (2017) – Huon Hooke, The Real Review, 95 Points. From a single block of 1973-planted shiraz. Usually produces a savoury, divergent expression to the Dry Red No 2 also produced from shiraz. I oscillate between which one I like better. Fickle. Released May 2017. This has savouriness written all over it. Scents of game meat, char, blood pudding, macerated cherries, mocha powder. The palate is soft, sighs with cherry and exotic spice, earthiness, silky tannins. Underlying acidity and oak flavours step a touch out of line, indeed, the wine finishes with a lemony brittleness that undermines the good work upfront, but it’s a small note from a slow, considered pace with the wine. The irk should iron out with time. It’s got some mojo. – Mike Bennie, The Wine Front, 93+ Points. The Finer Details Style – Red Wine Varietal – Shiraz Country – Australia Region – Yarra Valley, Victoria Vintage – 2015 Bottle Size – 750ml ABV – 13%