2016 Airlie Bank Blanc III

Airlie Bank

Australia / Yarra Valley / Airlie Bank

A proportional blend of Gewürztraminer, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. All parcels were wild yeast-fermented separately on skins, hand plunged and then basket pressed. They spent a few months in big, old oak and were subsequently racked to tank. No fining, minimal filtration, no stabilisation. This is the richest and most aromatically expressive of the Blanc series to date.

October, 2016

Gary Walsh

The Wine Front

90 points

This one is Gewurztraminer, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
Perfumed, with peach and apricot, ginger and lychee. Well rounded and thick feeling, soft acidity, light chalkiness, more to pie apple and dilute tonic water in the flavour department, with the perfume and spice poking its head up on a slightly gluggy finish. Nice wine though. Interesting.

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About Airlie Bank

Airlie Bank dares to treat drinkers with respect by delivering wines that are delicious and true - as well as remarkably good value. Tim Shand and the team enjoy freedom to push boundaries. Their small-batch ethos has led to a great deal of creativity and ever-decreasing doses of sulphur. Nothing is off the cards when they sniff an opportunity to make a more compelling wine, as demonstrated by its 100% whole bunch Cab Franc and goon-bag fermented Sauvignon Blanc. Pure drinking pleasure is the one-point manifesto of Airlie Bank, and the thirsty take-up across the board shows that they're hitting the mark.

About

Tim came to the Yarra Valley with vintages under his belt at Domaine Dujac in Burgundy and Château Margaux in Bordeaux, as well as stints in Chianti, Oregon and Chile. Since then he had a hand in some of the region’s headline-grabbing wines of recent times during his tenure at Giant Steps before taking the helm at Punt Road in 2014. Tim and the team are making most of the freedom to push boundaries while making the most of the excellent fruit the Yarra Valley gives rise to.