Yeringberg Pinot Noir 2021

Product Information: The 2021 Yeringberg Pinot Noir is a wine of remarkable complexity, poise, and depth, drinking effortlessly today while holding immense potential for the future. It opens with pure and elegant notes of raspberry, rose petal, and cherry, interwoven with sappy, spicy undertones. On the palate, it drinks bright and savoury, with a refined texture that deepens into plummy richness and velvety structure. Cool alpine spices add a layer of seriousness as the wine unfurls slowly in the glass. While it’s tempting to enjoy now, it has the strength and balance to evolve beautifully over the next 10+ years. This Pinot Noir is crafted from a mix of the MV6 clone and an old clone from Great Western, planted between 1969 and 1974. The fruit is crushed and destemmed, spending eight to ten days on skins, with 45% matured in new oak. Maker: Guill de Pury grew up next to the then-defunct 19th-century winery in Coldstream, which had ceased production in 1921 due to a lack of interest in fine table wines. In 1969, Guill and his wife Katherine decided to revive the vineyard and start over, gradually restoring both the site and the reputation of this historic Australian estate. Their first commercial wine was released in 1974. Since 2008, their daughter Sandra has taken over winemaking duties, while her brother David, who holds a PhD in plant physiology, manages the vineyards alongside Yeringberg’s grass-fed lamb and cattle operations. Sandra’s journey to becoming a fourth-generation winemaker was unconventional. She initially worked as a chef in Hong Kong after gaining kitchen experience and studying hotel management in Switzerland. She later earned an MBA from the University of Melbourne, followed by a scholarship to the University of Chicago. After a successful five-year stint as a consultant, her heritage caught up with her, and she turned to winemaking. Sandra completed a degree in oenology and now views her craft as “the perfect combination of intellectual, physical, and sensory engagement.” Yeringberg’s commitment to the future is reflected in their ongoing evolution. A new winery is currently in the design phase, and a vineyard replanting program began in 2020 to adapt to climate change and phylloxera. The establishment of two new vineyard sites on south- and east-facing slopes marks an exciting future for one of the Yarra Valley’s most historic and important producers. The Philosophy: The de Pury family, pioneers of the Yarra Valley, are renowned for producing wines of finesse and elegance that epitomise the best the region can offer. The wines are crafted from some of the oldest vines in the valley and are known for their longevity, made in limited quantities. Yeringberg wines come from low-yielding vines re-established on the heart of what was one of the most famous vineyards of the 19th century. In riper years, the red wines display a velvety generosity rarely encountered in the region, without sacrificing their varietal character. Nose – Rose Petals, Red Fruits & Briar, Nutmeg Lots of intrigue. Fragrant aromas of sap, spice, blue fruits, earth, dried herbs, briar and dark cherry. Palate – Rhubarb Pie, Deep Plum, Earth & Herbs Fleshy, mouth-filling and multi-faceted. Blue and red fruits abound as well as earth and herbs. Finish – Savour Tannins, Textured, Velvety There’s also a bunchy, stemminess and textured, savoury tannins. The acidity has brightness and life and there’s lovely length and poise. Bright crimson. Aromatically, I can’t recall a prettier Yeringberg pinot. It’s got delicate new season cherries, strawberries, rose petals and a little nutmeg spice. Gentle and sweetly fruited on entry, it’s also earthy and structured with fine yet powerful tannins. Finishes long and with a touch of spice. This is destined to age well. – Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion, 96 Points. Complex, fragrant aromas of sap, spice, blue fruits, earth, dried herbs, briar and dark cherry. Plenty of exotica and intrigue here. Fleshy, mouth-filling and multi-faceted. Blue and red fruits abound as well as earth and herbs. There’s also a bunchy, stemminess and textured, savoury tannins. The acidity has brightness and life and there’s lovely length and poise. – Aaron Brasher, The Real Review, 95 Points. Vines planted 1969-1974 to MV6 and and old clone from Great Western. 45% new oak. Cherry, strawberry and rhubarb pie, dried roses, toasty spicy oak. It’s medium-bodied, has some savoury tobacco and toasted spice, red fruits, a light grainy grip to tannin, balanced acidity, and a finish of very good length. It feels young and a little bit chewy as at now, though I reckon it’s going to roll out and evolve beautifully. Certainly it’s one of the best