Yangarra Estate Vineyard has released the new vintages of its Single Block wines. There are six wines in the line up, including the 2021 High Sands Grenache, 2021 Ironheart Shiraz, and from the 2022 vintage, the Ovitelli Blanc, Roux Beaute Roussanne, Hickinbotham Clarendon Grenache, and the Ovitelli Grenache.
Situated in Blewitt Springs, north-east of McLaren Vale, Yangarra is an organic and biodynamic single-estate vineyard. And thanks to the combination of ancient geology, high altitude and Mediterranean climate, it's the perfect place to grow varieties from the southern Rhône.
Tasting Team member Marcus Ellis, who is our resident McLaren Vale taster, has reviewed each wine. All six Single Block wines have been awarded gold medals, placing them in either the 'outstanding' or 'exceptional' bracket.
Marcus Ellis' Yangarra tasting notes
2021 Yangarra Estate Vineyard High Sands Grenache McLaren Vale
High Sands is always a landmark wine, a site-reflective icon of peerless husbandry and elaboration, but it can be imposing, needing time and reflection. This is different, though, finely tuned, lucid, silky and sophisticated, and feeling even more expressive of place. A great, cool vintage, yes, with both depth and levity, but Pete Fraser’s quarter turns of the screw are also palpable. Fruits are red and black, ripe but with some tart wild tension, dusted in heady baharat spicing, the heartbeat of old-vine power pulsing insistently within. Flavour descriptors feel ineffectual, though. It’s the sheer graceful power of the thing that’s so beguiling, as it noiselessly swoops in, catching you in the updraft of its immense wingspan. By any measure, this is a great wine. – Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 98 pointsRRP $325 | Drink to 2036
2021 Yangarra Estate Vineyard Ironheart Shiraz McLaren Vale
Fermented with 25 per cent whole bunches; matured in French puncheons for seven months (35 per cent new), then transferred to Austrian and French foudre for 12 months. The sandy ironstone soil is the key driver here, with a lilting fragrance combined with rocky ferrous notes, blackberry, blueberry, tar, tapenade, anise, iodine and a briary herbal complexity. Oak is well integrated, though more time is needed to cohere in general, as this is fashioned to age, and it will do so impressively. – Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 96 pointsRRP $130 | Drink to 2036
2022 Yangarra Estate Vineyard Ovitelli Blanc McLaren Vale
A blend of 58/24/8/5/5 per cent grenache blanc/roussanne/grenache gris/bourboulenc/clairette. Some grenache and clairette on skins in concrete eggs for 120 days, the remainder whole-bunch pressed to egg; 59 per cent skin contact in the final blend. Organic/biodynamic. The skin contact provides meaningful detail to this, but in a quiet way, gently tugging the palate with a pumice-like texture, shaving off overt fruitfulness and layering in savoury flavour. Dried pear, poached apple, quince, ground ginger, beeswax, lemon barely water and chamomile. It’ll be fascinating to watch this age, no doubt picking up honeyed tones, while that bedrock of artfully laid grape tannin will provide a moreish succulence for many years. – Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 96 pointsRRP $70 | Drink to 2032
2022 Yangarra Estate Vineyard Roux Beaute Roussanne McLaren Vale
All fermented in 675L ceramic eggs, 52 per cent of final blend on skins for 120 days, the remainder whole-bunch pressed, a further four months in egg after blending. The power of this release is somewhat of a statement, as is the synchronised harmony of fruit and structure. Power is not to be mistaken for heft, but rather a certain density of matter, an intensity of flavour that is inextricably locked with a commanding drive of skin tannins and subtle but purposeful acidity. Spiced pear, dried lime, green almond, grippy heirloom apple, dried mint…flavour descriptors are inevitably clumsy, such is the individuality of expression. It’s even better on day two, promising a very bright future. It’s world-class stuff. – Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 97 pointsRRP $70 | Drink to 2035
2022 Yangarra Estate Vineyard Hickinbotham Clarendon Grenache McLaren Vale
Destemmed, crushed and fermented in 1800L ‘cocciopesto’ (or opus signinum – a Roman ‘concrete’ that was used in bathhouses, cisterns and aqueducts) amphorae, with about 150 days on skins before pressing and returning, with 15 months' total time. Compared to the Ovitelli, this often shows a little more forward fruit and textural flex. In a year like 2022, where tannins and savouriness are turned up, that brighter pop gives this an earlier appeal, though it is no less equipped with mouth-puckering grip and zippy acidity. Raspberry, pomegranate, redcurrant, rosehip, musk, anise, dried orange peel, the fruit impeccably framed on the nose, and bound by an intricate net of fine sandy tannin on the palate carrying incredibly long. It’s an exceptional release. – Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 97 pointsRRP $90 | Drink to 2035
2022 Yangarra Estate Vineyard Ovitelli Grenache McLaren Vale
From 1946-planted vines in Block 30, adjacent to the High Sands Block; destemmed, crushed and fermented in 675L ceramic eggs; pressed after about 150 days then returned to the eggs for a total of 14 months' maturation. Taut and sinewy, both a function of making and the year that was, this is a coiled spring of dried flowers, cranberry, raspberry leaf tea, cherry, pomegranate and dusty white pepper spicing. The pedigree of place, venerable vines, impeccable viticultural stewardship and fine-tuned making suggest this will have a long and exciting future, but it needs a few years to unlock all its mysteries. As it stands, it is a thrilling bottle, if a little stern at present. I have a feeling the score may tick up with time. – Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 96 pointsRRP $90 | Drink to 2035
2022 Yangarra Estate Vineyard King's Wood Shiraz McLaren Vale
From Block 12 on a southeast-facing sandy ironstone outcrop; 15 per cent whole bunches, the rest crushed; matured in French and Austrian foudre for 18 months. A very Rhône-like release this, with peppery spicing, blackberry pastille, moody blue florals, lavender, blueberry, cocoa powder and freshly ground star anise. The elegance here is admirable, with a tannin drive from front to back, and no sweet spot. A very fine release. – Marcus Ellis, Halliday Wine Companion, 95 pointsRRP $70 | Drink to 2034
For more information and to shop the Yangarra Single Block wines visit yangarra.com.
