Brief notes. Great Pinot from the Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard are an annual event these days. The 2023 vintage has just been awarded Halliday’s Pinot Noir of the year. This wine was pale to mid crimson. Red cherry. Essence of Pinot Noir and one of Australia’s best. The reputation set up by Steve Flamsteed and carried on by Melanie Chester and the new ownership in the USA. Sweet sappy red fruits. Medium weight. Very good. — a month ago
Amazing! Medium bodied and silky smooth, layers and layers of spice with chocolate. — 3 months ago
Classic Bindi. Absolutely delightful and at its peak — 13 days ago
The final wine at the Yarra Yering dinner in Brisbane last Thursday night 3rd October 2024 with winemaker Sarah Crowe. Fitting that Dry Red No. 1 should be the final wine - arguably the Jewel in the Crown. Initial aromatic impressions are gorgeous. This is the 50th vintage of Dry Red No. 1. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Brief notes - blackberry, aniseed and bay leaf. A medium bodied Cabernet with M+ intensity and finishing with fine boned tannin structure. Power with poise, concentration with finesse. Will live for 20 years plus. I have been buying on an irregular basis for many years. The 1990 was a highlight. I asked Sarah, who was Chairman of the Royal Sydney Wine Show this year to compare 3 of the main Cabernet producing areas in Australia - Yarra Valley leafy fragrance, Coonawarra Mint, and Margaret River herbaceousness. At Restaurant Dan Arnold. — a month ago
So lovely! Opened after working at Yeringberg showing the 2022 wines (which were amazing!). So delicate and velvety with rich tertiary characters. Fruit still vibrant showing dark berries. Awesome! — 22 days ago
At the Yarra Yering dinner in Brisbane last Thursday 3rd October 2024 with winemaker Sarah Crowe. A blend of Shiraz, Viognier, Mataro and Marsanne. The original vineyards of Shiraz and Marsanne were established in 1969 with additional vineyards of Mataro and Viognier planted from 1984 to 1995. A lovely red berried perfume (raspberry) with some stalks added back in. Interestingly some fermenters have added frozen Viognier skins to the bottom, some have Marsanne skins. Sarah is always wanting to push the envelope with her winemaking. A classic Rhone style, blended with perfume in mind. Red wine of the year from the Halliday Wine Companion and awarded 99 points from Philip Rich from that publication. — a month ago
From half bottle at what I believe is Australia’s best Cantonese restaurant which is Flower Drum in Melbourne, and has been for 48 years. I had the Chefs banquet of 6 small courses. No notes on the wine but a quality producer from a quality terroir in the Macedon Ranges. Definitely cool climate and on the lean side. Great with food. — 4 months ago
Ron R
It’s been years since I tasted this wine. Indeed, I was drinking the stuff made by Dr Bailey Carrodus before he passed. I’m pleased to note that the current winemaker hasn’t stepped off the reservation.
Nose is brambly and dense. Notes of figs, dates and cedar waft from the glass. Not as dense on the mid-palate as i recall, but well balanced, with no overbearing oak. Texture on the palate invokes a crunchy mouthfeel. This will benefit from more cellaring, but drinking very well right now.
Thanks to @Bob McDonald for reminding me how much I have missed this wine. — 19 hours ago