The ‘cheaper’ wine that costs $105

I’m notably impressed by the viognier and shiraz launched underneath the highest Carrodus label from 2019. Crowe tells me they arrive from neighbouring blocks of previous, dry-grown vines: the great physician was one of many first to plant viognier in Australia within the early Nineteen Eighties and was a pioneer of the follow of including a number of the white selection to shiraz, to convey fragrance to the pink, impressed by the wines of Côte Rôtie in France. He planted it subsequent to his unique plot of shiraz, established in 1969.

However I hold coming again to Crowe’s 2019 merlot – partly maybe as a result of, like Yarra Yering’s long-time prospects, I keep in mind when Bailey Carrodus launched his first. It’s a unbelievable instance of the grape, a testomony to the standard of the winery, a benchmark for the range in Australia.

Sure, it could be $100 a bottle (OK, $105), however within the context of the opposite prime Yarra Yering wines, and in contrast with the costs charged for prime merlots from Bordeaux or California – to not point out the 1990 Yarra Yering merlot – it’s a cut price.

Yarra Yering Merlot 2019
Yarra Valley, $105
Seductive, deeply scrumptious pink wine, with all of the plums in abundance: crunchy blood plums, plum sauce, black-as-night juicy plums. Plummy however not plump: completely balanced and cellar-worthy.

Yarra Yering Carrodus Viognier 2019
Yarra Valley, $160
Some viogniers burst out of the glass with ripe, keen, peachy aromas. That is rather more refined and grown-up: delicate, attractive fragrance, then a gradual construct of spiced-cream and savoury texture.

Yarra Yering Carrodus Shiraz 2019
Yarra Valley, $275
Dense ripe purple fruit framed by supple oak main on to a fabulously advanced array of gamey, earthy, undergrowthy flavours. Surprisingly approachable now, however will cellar gracefully for many years.

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