2020 Yarra Yering Dry Red No.2 (Shiraz)

Full bottle 1,345 g. Mostly Shiraz, with a tiny amount of Mataro (Mourvèdre) and Viognier. 1969 original vineyard establishment plantings of Shiraz, with additional Shiraz planted across the 1990s. The Mataro and Viognier come from vines planted between 1984 to 1995. Hand-picked, chilled overnight then transferred across a sorting table and destemmed directly to the Yarra Yering half-tonne open-fermenters. As much whole berry as possible is retained to encourage perfume. The wine was aged for 15 months in French oak barriques, 30% new before blending and bottling.
The soft scent of fresh bay leaf steals out the glass, followed by a liquid red sunrise of blood orange and cherry fruit. Cranberry brightness in the acidity, cigar-box spices in the tannins, baharat and dried rose petals sifting through the finish. Scrumptious. Sinewy freshness. So, so appetising. 17.5 points