Yarra Yering Dry Red No 1 Yarra Valley – 2021

Dry Red Wine No.1 is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 11% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot. Alc 13.5%.

VINES

The first Yarra Yering plantings into block No. 1 were these Cabernet Sauvignon vines, and the name was born. Malbec was also part of the original 1969 plantings. Merlot vines were originally interplanted with Cabernet, with subsequent plantings in 1990 along with Petit Verdot.

WINE

Blueberry and blackberry fruits and a comforting rustic iodine feel compliment some bay leaf lift. Clove spice and a hint of smoky oak bring both flavour and tannin. Beautiful fruit weight, refreshing acidity and fine tannins form a solid foundation for a long future. Complex, but not intimidating, always exciting to watch evolve.

Cellaring

Under suitable cellaring conditions it will evolve for 20+ years if you wish to show restraint, otherwise choose your occasion and enjoy! 

WINEMAKING

Hand-harvested and sorted, only the best berries make the cut. Cabernet is crushed for structure, while Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot undergo whole berry fermentation for fragrance and weight. Mostly fermented in half-tonne fermenters, handplunged daily. Some of the Cabernet ferments in 3,500L oak cask, with up to 8 weeks on skins for complexity. Matured 15 months in French oak barriques, 40% new.

Accolades

“Deep, bright purple-red colour with a bouquet of cassis, mulberry, blackberry and some hints of peat-moss, nori and dried herbs. In the mouth, it’s finely tuned and tensioned, elegantly weighted and structured with intensity and drive, the tannins fine grained and perfectly matched to the flavour. Long, long carry. Very stylish wine. (60% cabernet, 24% merlot, 11% malbec, 5% petit verdot)” 98/100 Huon Hooke, The Real Review.

Langton’s First Classified – 8th Edition

3 Merit Wine – The Real Review Wine Classification

100 Points – Tyson Stelzer, Wine Press

98 Points – 2024 Halliday Wine Companion

98 Points – Huon Hooke, The Real Review