YARRA YERING UNDERHILL SHIRAZ 2016

Yarra Yering, established in 1969 by Dr Bailey Carrodus, is a renowned 28-hectare vineyard in Victoria s Yarra Valley. Known for producing elegant, complex, and age-worthy wines, it gained international recognition with its first vintage in 1973. The vineyard s northerly slope, good drainage, and elevation contribute to the balanced and precise character of its wines. Current winemaker Sarah Crowe, named James Halliday s 2017 Australian Winemaker of the Year, continues the tradition of quality and individuality started by Dr Carrodus, focusing on hand-picked fruit and minimal winemaking intervention to showcase the iconic vineyard s potential. This Yarra Valley Shiraz comes from an 8-acre block planted in 1973 at the western edge of the Yarra Yering vineyard. The winemaking process involves hand-harvesting, sorting, and destemming to retain whole berries. Fermentation occurs in half-tonne open fermenters with twice-daily hand plunging, incorporating stalk baskets and varying percentages of whole bunch fermentation for structure and complexity. The wine is aged for 12 months in French oak puncheons, 30% new. At 14% alcohol, this 100% Shiraz offers heady black plum fruits and violet aromatics, with licorice spice and nettle undergrowth. The wine s chewy tannins provide a framework for dark fruits, spice, and savory undertones, reflecting the influence of the clay-based soils.