An incredible vintage for Yeringberg.
161 years young. That sums up Yeringberg perfectly. In the property’s 161st year, still in the same hands after all this time. 161 years as a wine grower puts them in rare air – only Yalumba comes to mind that can boast similar. However, at this ‘age’, to be at the peak of their powers now really is something else.
Sandra and David, brother and sister, and current custodians of this place are dynamic. Their attention to detail setting them apart and allowing them to speak a romantic story of not ‘changing’ anything while, really, they have analysed every miniature to extract all potential out of this magnificent property. Never, though, has any tweak ever infringed upon the unique and special ‘Yeringberg’ character. You could argue that character has actually been enhanced, the attention to detail leaving the wines ever more transparent and alive and with that showing the farm in all it’s glory in your glass. Only Yalumba and Tyrell’s comes to mind that can boast similar.
2021 is, as you would be aware by now, is an incredible vintage in this part of the world. And, with it comes a return of Shiraz; the wine wasn’t made in 2020 with Sandra making the tough call to not bottle the wine due to the cool conditions that saw Rhone varieties in the Yarra struggle to get to full ripeness. We at CellarHand are excited to have it back in the mix as we believe Shiraz to have been the equal to the eponymous ‘Yeringberg’ in recent times. Which is saying something given the pedigree of the Cabernet blend.
We are extremely proud to offer these wines to you today. – Sam Hooper, CellarHand
2021 Yeringberg Viognier RRP $46
Crushed and destemmed with several hours’ skin contact and matured for 10 months in large format oak. Bright gold with green tinges. Richer and more opulent than last year’s wine but equally compelling. A heady mix of apricots, just ripened mangoes, orange blossom honey and a little freshly grated ginger. Voluptuous, silken textured and with excellent balance on the palate. Finishes focused and long. A hedonistic wine that’s probably best enjoyed in its youth. 95 points. Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion Aug 2023
2021 Yeringberg Marsanne Roussanne RRP $75
62/38% marsanne/roussanne from vines planted between 1973 and ’85. The varieties were picked and made separately with blending just before bottling. Both were fermented in tank before being 10 months in seasoned oak. A bright green gold. Year in and year out, this wine delivers the goods. Pure fruited with stone and orchard fruits, orange blossom, fresh ginger and a touch of spice. It’s mouth-filling and textured yet super fresh. Finishes long and with a little apricot pith and fresh lime. Excellent. 97 points. Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion Aug 2023
2021 Yeringberg Chardonnay RRP $75
35% malo, 35% new hogsheads. Two picks, two weeks apart. Peach and lime, mint nougat, some white flowers, toasted cashew and spice. It’s smooth and glossy, a lick of buttery richness, but shot through with grapefruity acidity, a fine graininess to texture, some toasty oak, and full Chardonnay flavour on a finish of excellent length. A little old school, but so pleasing in that way. 94 points. Gary Walsh, The Wine Front Nov 2023
2021 Yeringberg Shiraz RRP $107
Fruit from vines planted in 1999. Picked over 12 days with three different ferments (destemmed and crushed, whole berry and whole bunches), 12 to 30 days on skins and 19 months in oak hogsheads (30% new). No fining. Bright crimson purple. Aromas of boysenberries, dark raspberries, star anise and a gentle waft of oak-derived cedar. Medium bodied, gently plush and silken, this is already a delight. 95 points. Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion Aug 2023
2021 Yeringberg ‘Yeringberg’ RRP $107
A blend of 58/14/14/9/5% cabernet sauvignon/cabernet franc/merlot/petit verdot/malbec. Matured 20 months in French barriques (35% new). Bright crimson purple. From a great year, this is a beautifully fragrant and seductive Yeringberg with its aromas of blackcurrants, blueberries, cherry blossom, violets and just the right amount of oak-derived cedar and pencil-shaving scents. The epitome of medium bodied, it’s elegant, discreet and persistent on the palate, even at this early juncture. Equally important, the fruit is perfectly framed by the wine’s fine-grained and silky tannins and, as has been demonstrated on many occasions, this will mature slowly and gracefully. 98 points. Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion Aug 2023
