Yering Station’s first vines were planted in 1838, and it was those very same vines that established the Yarra Valley wine region in Victoria. On the 185th anniversary year of those initial plantings, the pioneer winery will release its limited, cool-climate wines from the 2021 vintage.
Available from August 1, the Reserve collection comprises a quartet of chardonnay, pinot noir, shiraz viognier, and cabernet sauvignon. Yering Station’s Reserve wines are only produced in the finest years and from the best parcels of fruit, and each is an expression of time, place and skill.
At the helm of the team is chief winemaker Brendan 'Hawk' Hawker, who marks his first end-to-end flagship release with the 2021 wines. "We are all incredibly proud of all four of these Reserve wines. It’s a rare occurrence that the vintage conditions allow for all four varietals to reach the level of quality that a Reserve release demands."
Brendan, who was named chief winemaker of Yering Station in late 2020 and first joined the winery as a cellar hand in 2008, says he loves the seasonal nature of being a winemaker. "It’s a beautiful thing working in agriculture. The workflow is dictated by the seasons and the weather and conditions experienced in the vineyards are reflected in the living product of the wines themselves."
While Brendan's passion and vision flows through the 2021 wines, he says he doesn't take the legacy of quality at Yering Station for granted – especially when it comes to the Reserves. "I intend to always respect and maintain that legacy."
A significant evolution, under the guidance of Hawk, has been driven by meticulous work in the vineyard. The team have made improvements to soil health, gradually replanted on rootstocks, are picking earlier, and are employing restraint in the use of new oak. "We are finding a more natural balance in the wines with more elegance and energy, which is only taking their quality higher."
Alongside the Reserve wines is the release of Yering Station’s pinnacle pinot noir: the 2021 Scarlett. The Scarlett Pinot Noir is driven by a very special patch of dirt from Block Y07 on the estate site. The highly coveted wine is produced in very limited quantities and was named in honour of Yering Station viticulturist, the late Nathan Scarlett.
Nathan’s innovation and precision viticulture led to the unearthing of the Y07 parcels. The vines on the three-acre patch of pinot noir are less stressed and more vigorous, resulting in fruit that has an effortless balance and a powerful purity. The 2021 is the fourth release of the Scarlett – preceding vintages include the 2013, 2015, and 2017.
For Brendan, there's a lot to love about making wine at Yering Station and in the Yarra Valley. "We have fantastic and varied vineyard resources, and we work with some of the region's best growers. We are empowered by the Rathbone family to explore style and technique – all in pursuit of making better and better wine each year."
2021 Yering Station Scarlett Pinot Noir
Seductive cherry and raspberry fruit with nutmeg and clove spice on the nose. Further complexity is built from a sweet note of freshly tilled soil and graphite. The palate begins with a tight core of bright red fruits, which unravel to reveal perfumed florals and sweet spices. It expands with elegant, structured tannins leading into a long, fruitful and deeply complex finish. RRP $300.The Reserve and Scarlett wines will be available from August 1, 2023 via yering.com or from the Yering Station cellar door. Sign up to the Yering Station Wine Club for pre-release access or visit yering.com for more information.
