Most people don’t find grapes sexy. We are not most people. On the surface, Gewürztraminer is sweet and floral, but lying beneath those delicate blush pink skins is a world of spice and intrigue just waiting to be discovered.
At the entrance to the Valley floor, this subregion is low elevation with grey loam clay based soils. Ripping winds from the north slow transpiration in summer but the cooler overnight temperatures aid the plants ability to regulate after hot days making this classic valley floor area suitable for many varieties. Ironstone/mudstone is a consistently big influence, building full mid-palate structure with soft, melting tannins.
A very dry season for the Yarra, 2019 was low yielding but high quality. A cool change early in the harvest helped to retain freshness, although the vintage is apparent in the darker aromatics. Only a baby, the 2019 Healesville Syrah is still a little closed, with restrained fruits and fine chalky tannin structure that will carry it through to maturity.
Recognised across the Valley as a great season for Chardonnay, our 2020 Yarra Valley Chardonnay is zesty, pithy and bursting with crushed florals. Crunchy acidity and plenty of backbone makes this a perfect wine for lazy Sunday afternoons with half a dozen oysters.
A bit of a deviation from our previous iterations, the 2020 Spring is a wine that speaks very strongly of its vintage. Still marked by the bright floral tones we love in this young vineyard, but with a fuller palate of fleshy stone fruits supported by chalky structure and a creamy acidity reminiscent of Grandma’s famous lemon meringue pie.