A collaboration of creative excellence between acclaimed winemaker Sarah Crowe and expert viticulturist Andrew George.
From the eastern rows of the original No. 1 Block, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. These vines interplanted have been growing side by side on our ancient soils since 1969.
A wine of seamless precision, with an unparalleled depth and complexity epitomising our ongoing dedication to excellence. Just 200 1.5 litre bottles were produced from the inaugural 2018 vintage. Each bottle has been individually numbered by Sarah Crowe and is presented in a handcrafted timber gift box.
Don’t miss this opportunity to secure a part of Yarra Yering history.
Harvest began at what I consider a ‘normal’ start date on 12 February 2018 with Pinot Meunier for sparkling base. Mild weather and not a drop of rain meant favourable ripening conditions and a steady pace of picking with last fruit picked on 22 March; a fairly compressed harvest but flavour was terrific. Then 30mm of welcome rain at the end of March brought some relief to the dry-grown vines giving them an opportunity to set themselves up for the following season.
By April things had slowed right down and we were pretty excited with the wines starting to settle in barrel with Shiraz an immediate highlight, but as usual the Cabernet Sauvignon built weight and complexity over time.
– Sarah Crowe
Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon 75% Merlot 25%
Region: Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
Vines: Cabernet Sauvignon were the first vines planted at Yarra Yering into the now iconic block No.1, this wine comes from the eastern most end of the south block. Merlot vines were at the time interplanted with the Cabernet Sauvignon in this block with a plan to replicate, if not improve upon, European benchmark wines of the same varieties.
Wine: Fragrant cranberry lift, fresh leather and cigar box. A heady palate of summer berries, cacao nibs and sweet and savoury spices. Beautiful fruit weight, gentle yet with great complexity and depth of flavour wrapped securely in a fresh acid line. Plentiful fine tannins form the foundation for a long future.
Winemaking: All hand harvested and berry sorted across a sorting table with only the very best berries selected for this wine. The Cabernet fruit is crushed to build structure through fermentation and then left for one month of extended maceration with the skins to bring added complexity. This technique is used to build a richer wine, more supple in texture and with great ageing ability. The Merlot was a whole berry ferment to bring fragrance and palate richness. All fermented in our unique Yarra Yering half-tonne tea chest fermenters, hand plunged for gentle extraction. Maturation in French oak barrels, 50% new for 15 months before bottling without fining or filtration.
Cellaring: Released at 5 years of age, if cellared under suitable cellaring conditions it will evolve for another 20+ years. It is worth remembering that great wine is made to be enjoyed, and we have released this wine because it is drinking beautifully.
Alcohol: 13.5% ALC
