Oakridge’s latest 864 Single Block release shows, once again, why this Yarra Valley winery is one of Australia’s greatest

On September 1 this year, Oakridge released its highly anticipated 864 Single Block wines. These sit at the very top of Oakridge’s range, made only when everything goes right in the vineyards and winery. 

The latest release includes the 2023 864 Henk Aqueduct Block Chardonnay, 2024 864 Hazeldene Block 1 Pinot Noir, 2023 864 Oakridge Close Planted Block Syrah, 2023 864 Oakridge Winery Block Cabernet Sauvignon and 2023 864 Funder & Diamond Drive Block Chardonnay – the 2022 vintage of this wine was Halliday's 2025 Wine of the Year.

Speaking of the latest Funder & Diamond, chief winemaker David Bicknell shared, “One day, the 2023 Funder will go past the 2022 and off into the distance! It’s like comparing a middle distance to a long distance runner.

“The ‘22 just has that brutal finishing power from a bit more weight, whereas the more slender ‘23 will just get into a rhythm and go year after year. The beauty of different seasons.”

But Oakridge isn’t only known for producing world-class chardonnays. Its pinot noirs and cabernet sauvignon wines are also top-tier, and this year’s release excitingly includes the first 864 Pinot Noir from the Hazeldene vineyard since 2016. David and his team have put a great deal of love and attention into this vineyard, getting the wines made from this patch up to the quality needed to be included within the prestigious 864 range.

While chardonnay and pinot noir are now synonymous with the Yarra Valley, cabernet most certainly is not. Nonetheless, David sees a bright future for cabernet sauvignon in the region.

“The Yarra and Oakridge were both built on cabernet. Pinot and chardonnay were the fashionable interlopers who took over, which speaks to the changing tastes in wine over time.

“Arguably, the most important/recognised wines still coming out of the Yarra are cabernet based. We have never lost sight of the importance of cabernet in the Oakridge story and where we are placed in the Valley. We even bought the original Oakridge Cabernet vineyard back. That’s another work in progress.”

The success of each of these 864 wines comes down to the whole team, but most importantly, David himself, who has been leading the charge since 2002. He transformed this winery, making it into one of Australia's greatest – Oakridge consistently makes our Top 100 Wineries (ranking 1st in the inaugural 2023 list)and was shortlisted for Winery of the Year for the 2026 Companion.

“When I came to Oakridge in 2002, things were a bit of a mess, so I focused on the basics. Horse and cart stuff. My thoughts were ‘if someone else in the world can make dazzling wines using the basics, why can’t we if we are careful?’ So it was as much about common sense and questioning every step.

“Why are we picking so late? When should we pick? Why are we pressing this way? What if we change things? Why put wines through malo if we end up having to add acid? Why use exogenous yeast if we can ferment them naturally? Do we want them to taste like trees (oak) or fruit? Once it was all pared back, it started to make sense and evolve. And we got noticed. All accidental.”

But nothing that comes out of Oakridge is accidental. This is a flagship Australian winery, only further growing its legacy with these top-class 2023 864 Single Block wines. Find Philip Rich’s reviews of these wines by clicking through the links below.

You can shop these wines now, purchasing them via the Oakridge website.

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