May is a big month for Yarra Yering as it marks the return of the winery's annual Vintage Autumn Release, including their much-anticipated Carrodus range. These wines are produced in limited quantities, dictated by vintage and sourced from finite areas of the Yarra Yering vineyard.
Established in 1969, Yarra Yering played a lead role in the revival of the Yarra Valley, producing the region’s first commercial wines in 50 years with the 1973 vintage. Now, under the watchful eye of winemaker Sarah Crowe, Yarra Yering continues to craft premium wines that reward careful cellaring.
During the month of May, Yarra Yering is offering the chance to sample the full range of new releases in an exclusive guided tasting at their cellar door.
2019 Yarra Yering Underhill Shiraz, $120
Tasting note: This perfumed cool-climate shiraz is deliciously medium bodied with a lick of aniseed spice. Bright blue plum fruits bring energy to the palate, with black plums bringing traditional fruit concentration.
Cellaring: While this wine gives itself up sooner rather than later, it will also often look wonderful at five to 10 years of age. The wine will continue to evolve for many more years under suitable cellaring conditions should you leave it for 10-plus years.
2019 Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 2, $120
Tasting note: This complex, layered wine is sweet and savoury at once. The fragrance is a melting pot of violets, plums, savoury spices and a whiff of bramble and five spice. Moderate in weight, the summer pudding fruits come in all colours, dialling up the flavour interest.
Varietals: 96% shiraz, 3% mataro, 1% viognier
Cellaring: This fragrant style is approachable on release, but some bottle maturation will evolve this into a beautifully complex wine. This blend has a track record when it comes to ageing, and will continue to evolve for a further 20 or more years under suitable cellaring conditions.
2019 Yarra Yering Agincourt Cabernet Malbec, $105
Tasting note: This wine's signature is its fragrance, with lifted bramble and redcurrant fruits. Its bright fruit flavours include cranberry, mulberries and blueberries. Fresh nettle brings a leafy lift, and tannins and clove spices dance with vibrant acidity and an elegant fruit drive.
Varietals: 70% cabernet, 30% malbec
Cellaring: Drinking beautifully at present, this wine is made to be approachable when young, but will also continue to evolve for a further five years under suitable cellaring conditions.
2019 Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 1, $120
Tasting note: This wine is all about fruit power, with a background herbal lift. Christmas cake, mixed spice and a hint of oak are all in balance, with a bright acid drive and tannins forming a solid foundation for a long future.
Varietals: 67% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot, 12% malbec, 6% petit verdot
Cellaring: This wine often needs some bottle maturation in order to unfurl. Under suitable cellaring conditions, it will evolve for 20 or more years – if you can leave it that long. Otherwise, choose your occasion and enjoy it.
2019 Yarra Yering Carrodus Viogner, $160
Tasting note: Expect signature apricot blossom aromas from this wine, with lifted white flowers of honeysuckle, and a little musk stick, too. Fresh apricots deliver plenty of weight and flavour to the palate, along with a white nectarine punch. Hints of lemon citrus bring an acid twist that keeps the weight in check.
Cellaring: Drinking beautifully at present, this viognier will evolve for another five years under suitable cellaring conditions.
2019 Yarra Yering Carrodus Pinot Noir, $275
Tasting note: Beautiful primary cherry fruit lift and pretty violets are in full force here. The wine is highly aromatic, with some oak adding vanilla and spice. With an elegant and silky fruit profile, cherry-berry fruits explode once the wine hits the palate, while some graphite and oak spice bring structure to the finish.
Cellaring: This pinot noir will evolve for a further 15 years under suitable cellaring conditions, but it's also very easy to drink in its youth.
2019 Yarra Yering Carrodus Shiraz, $275
Tasting note: Aromas of violet perfume, black plums and a side of cured meats lead into a palate with beautiful density of fruit, licorice and a slate-graphite minerality. The cool-climate acidity brings an energy and brightness, even in a warm year like 2019, which will carry it through many years of cellaring.
Cellaring: Drinking beautifully at present, this wine will evolve for a further 20 years under suitable cellaring conditions.
2019 Yarra Yering Carrodus Cabernet Sauvignon, $275
Tasting note: One of the Yarra Valley's lesser-known heroes, cabernet sauvignon shines here. This wine shows youthful notes of blackcurrants, graphite, bay leaf, energy, purity and precision. 13.5% alc.
Cellaring: This wine is a prime candidate for the cellar, and will evolve for a further 20-plus years under suitable conditions.
Established in 1969, Yarra Yering played a lead role in the revival of the Yarra Valley, producing the region’s first commercial wines in 50 years with the 1973 vintage. Now, under the watchful eye of winemaker Sarah Crowe, Yarra Yering continues to craft premium wines that reward careful cellaring.
During the month of May, Yarra Yering is offering the chance to sample the full range of new releases in an exclusive guided tasting at their cellar door.
Book ahead for Yarra Yering's New Release Tasting Experience during May to sample the 2019 wines.
2019 Yarra Yering Underhill Shiraz, $120
Tasting note: This perfumed cool-climate shiraz is deliciously medium bodied with a lick of aniseed spice. Bright blue plum fruits bring energy to the palate, with black plums bringing traditional fruit concentration.
Cellaring: While this wine gives itself up sooner rather than later, it will also often look wonderful at five to 10 years of age. The wine will continue to evolve for many more years under suitable cellaring conditions should you leave it for 10-plus years.
2019 Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 2, $120
Tasting note: This complex, layered wine is sweet and savoury at once. The fragrance is a melting pot of violets, plums, savoury spices and a whiff of bramble and five spice. Moderate in weight, the summer pudding fruits come in all colours, dialling up the flavour interest.
Varietals: 96% shiraz, 3% mataro, 1% viognier
Cellaring: This fragrant style is approachable on release, but some bottle maturation will evolve this into a beautifully complex wine. This blend has a track record when it comes to ageing, and will continue to evolve for a further 20 or more years under suitable cellaring conditions.
2019 Yarra Yering Agincourt Cabernet Malbec, $105
Tasting note: This wine's signature is its fragrance, with lifted bramble and redcurrant fruits. Its bright fruit flavours include cranberry, mulberries and blueberries. Fresh nettle brings a leafy lift, and tannins and clove spices dance with vibrant acidity and an elegant fruit drive.
Varietals: 70% cabernet, 30% malbec
Cellaring: Drinking beautifully at present, this wine is made to be approachable when young, but will also continue to evolve for a further five years under suitable cellaring conditions.
2019 Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 1, $120
Tasting note: This wine is all about fruit power, with a background herbal lift. Christmas cake, mixed spice and a hint of oak are all in balance, with a bright acid drive and tannins forming a solid foundation for a long future.
Varietals: 67% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot, 12% malbec, 6% petit verdot
Cellaring: This wine often needs some bottle maturation in order to unfurl. Under suitable cellaring conditions, it will evolve for 20 or more years – if you can leave it that long. Otherwise, choose your occasion and enjoy it.
2019 Yarra Yering Carrodus Viogner, $160
Tasting note: Expect signature apricot blossom aromas from this wine, with lifted white flowers of honeysuckle, and a little musk stick, too. Fresh apricots deliver plenty of weight and flavour to the palate, along with a white nectarine punch. Hints of lemon citrus bring an acid twist that keeps the weight in check.
Cellaring: Drinking beautifully at present, this viognier will evolve for another five years under suitable cellaring conditions.
2019 Yarra Yering Carrodus Pinot Noir, $275
Tasting note: Beautiful primary cherry fruit lift and pretty violets are in full force here. The wine is highly aromatic, with some oak adding vanilla and spice. With an elegant and silky fruit profile, cherry-berry fruits explode once the wine hits the palate, while some graphite and oak spice bring structure to the finish.
Cellaring: This pinot noir will evolve for a further 15 years under suitable cellaring conditions, but it's also very easy to drink in its youth.
2019 Yarra Yering Carrodus Shiraz, $275
Tasting note: Aromas of violet perfume, black plums and a side of cured meats lead into a palate with beautiful density of fruit, licorice and a slate-graphite minerality. The cool-climate acidity brings an energy and brightness, even in a warm year like 2019, which will carry it through many years of cellaring.
Cellaring: Drinking beautifully at present, this wine will evolve for a further 20 years under suitable cellaring conditions.
2019 Yarra Yering Carrodus Cabernet Sauvignon, $275
Tasting note: One of the Yarra Valley's lesser-known heroes, cabernet sauvignon shines here. This wine shows youthful notes of blackcurrants, graphite, bay leaf, energy, purity and precision. 13.5% alc.
Cellaring: This wine is a prime candidate for the cellar, and will evolve for a further 20-plus years under suitable conditions.
To sample these new vintages, book your tasting experience now.
This article was produced in partnership with Yarra Yering.