YERING STATION Reserve Chardonnay, Yarra Valley
Since 1997, Yering Station has been producing expressive Yarra Valley wines. Under the current guidance of Willy Lunn (and before that Nathan Scarlett), Yering Station employs traditional techniques and new technology to continually improve the wines they produce–the Reserves are the highest expression of the winery. Only made in exceptional vintages, the ‘Reserve’ range from Yering Station comprises fine Yarra Valley Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz Viognier, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Classic Yarra Valley mineral backbone. Fruit centre is complex and lively. Grapefruit nashi pear and vanilla cream combine with lip-smacking acidity to give an intricate yet seamless purity.
Hand-picked, Mendoza and P58 clones, whole-bunch pressed, wild-fermented in French oak (25% new), matured for 11 months. Intense and mouthfilling, with white peach and grapefruit doing the heavy lifting. The finish is particularly impressive, likewise the aftertaste.
97 points, James Halliday, Wine Companion, July 2019.
Light to mid-yellow-straw colour, with an aroma of lightly-toasted almond, a little smokiness and some charcuterie-like complexity. The wine is delicate on the tongue and super-refined. A cleaner style of chardonnay. Refreshing. This is a wine of real finesse. Lovely, and it will certainly reward even short-term cellaring. Will probably rate higher with a little more time.
96 points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review, September 2019.
A delicious white with sliced cooked apples, pie crust and hints of burnt lemons. Medium to full body and creamy texture. Complex aftertaste, buttressed by the smoked oak and toasted bread. Subtle yet rich.
93 points, Nick Stock, jamessuckling.com, June 2019.
Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley was first planted by the Ryrie brothers who explored a way through the Snowy Mountains to the Yarra Valley, planting grapes in 1838 just three years after the foundation of Melbourne. A wine industry (developed by Swiss Settlers particularly Hubert de Castella and Baron Guillaume de Pury in the 1850s) thrived during the gold rush era and heyday of the 19th century. However, the end of the gold rush brought the wine industry into decline and it was not until the 1970’s that the modern wine industry started up again. The region is probably Australia’s best-known cool-climate area, yet it is really a patchwork of meso-climates. This varied topography creates an incredible set of variables. Vineyards are planted on elevations of 50 to 400m on varying aspects and management programmes. The more exposed sites are subject to severe spring frosts and winds. Overall, the area experiences a relatively high rainfall pattern and is known for its temperature extremes during ripening. Site selection is crucial, with the best vineyards often located where the original vines were once planted, generally on sandy clay loams and gravels. The Yarra Valley is well known for high quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Blends with Shiraz increasingly garnering attention. Sparkling wine production is also extremely important, with many of Australia’s finest examples produced in the region.
