…The low-yielding, unirrigated vineyards have always produced wines of extraordinary depth and intensity…Sarah Crowe was appointed winemaker after the ’13 vintage. She has made red wines of the highest imaginable quality right from the start, transitioning the range to screw caps. For good measure, she also introduced the Light Dry Red Pinot Shiraz in ’14, and was named Winemaker of the Year 2017. JAMES HALLIDAY, winecompanion.com
Founded in 1969 by Yarra Valley pioneer, Dr Bailey Carrodus, Yarra Yering has long maintained a formidable reputation. But Hooke says its output has only improved following the arrival in late 2013 of winemaker Sarah Crowe. “She’s taken the jewel and polished it even further,” he says. “Sarah manages to get the desired structure into the wines, which means plenty of tannin, but they’re very, very supple tannins.” HUON HOOKE, smh.com.au
The rise and rise of Sarah Crowe is writ large in her work at Yarra Yering, where she has made innovation a keystone, as well as carrying on the legacy of this significant producer. MIKE BENNIE
++ Winery of the Year ++
– James Halliday’s Wine Companion 2022 Awards
– The Real Review 2021
++ Winemaker of the Year ++
– Gourmet Traveller 2021 Awards
– James Halliday Wine Companion 2017
Our wine history may be not as florid and long-lived as Europe’s, yet we’ve shown the world a thing or two when it comes to making great wine. We’ve thought outside the box, unconstrained by local laws and put together blends you won’t find the world over. Two that come to mind are the unification of shiraz and cabernet and marrying shiraz and pinot noir.
With a respectful eye to acknowledging our wine history, in 2015 when Sarah Crowe was just starting her reign at Yarra Yering she released a Light Dry Red from some of the estate’s best fruit. This was no second-tier wine but rather a wine to be enjoyed earlier in its life (its legendary siblings need time). By blending pinot noir and shiraz she made a vibrant and spicy red, silken in its delivery yet deep in its dwelling.
Crowe had revived this blend – the eccentric and fastidious founder of Yarra Yering, Dr Bailey Carrodus had made a Light Dry Red in 1975 (bottle pictured) while also paying tribute to her time spent in the Hunter Valley. The pinot shiraz blend was fashioned by the pioneering vigneron, Maurice O’Shea in the Hunter Valley in the mid-20th century. In the hands of Crowe, she’d bought this original blend to light in the Yarra and added her twist (YV old vines, whole bunches).
Over the last few releases, it’s clear to see the slew of awards Crowe has scooped up while leading Yarra Yering are well deserved. Yarra Yering is legendary. It’s one of the oldest and most beautiful Yarra Valley vineyards. Crowe’s role as gatekeeper has rolled this icon into the modern day. One of her greatest feats is remaining respectful to the fruit she works with, across the board her wines are fluid and luminous. Huon Hooke offers these thoughtful words ‘They’ve got this beautiful, translucent bright red colour. The bouquet is wonderful; it’s intense, expressive and complex, and the flavour too is remarkably intense without being big or overpowering in any way.”
2022 is an excellent vintage, albeit a very small vintage. The yields are down due to poor flowering but the mid and dry harvest led to a prolonged growing season where plenty of flavour developed while acidity remained fresh. As Philip Rich remarks below, ‘More serious than last year’s version, it will be hard to keep your hands off this one. Those that do, however, will be well rewarded!
This is an incredibly delicious and original Aussie wine from one of our greats who isn’t afraid to look back to history to make a modern-styled wine. You don’t need to cellar this for too long, it combines equal parts ebullience and seriousness.
We’re offering the 2022 for $79 each in a 6-pack ($424), it’s a lovely gateway in both style and price to Yarra Yering.