2021 Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 1

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 11% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot.

Hand-harvested and meticulously sorted, only the finest berries are chosen for this wine. The Cabernet grapes are individually berry-sorted before being crushed, enhancing their structure during fermentation. Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot undergo whole berry fermentation to heighten fragrance and build palate weight. The majority are fermented in half-tonne fermenters, hand-plunged twice daily. One-third of the Cabernet component ferments in a brand-new 3500L upright oak cask, spending eight weeks on skins to develop complexity and a savoury profile. The wine is matured in French oak, with 40% being new, and blended after 15 months of barrel maturation.

Blackberry fruits and a rustic iodine note are complemented by bay leaf, adding an herbal lift. Mixed brown spices and a hint of oak contribute to the flavour and tannin. The beautiful fruit, refreshing acidity, and fine tannins form a solid foundation for a long-lasting future. Complex yet approachable, this wine is always exciting to watch evolve.