2017 Airlie Bank Franc

Airlie Bank

Australia / Yarra Valley / Airlie Bank

VINTAGE
2017 is a very promising vintage, that may prove to be one of the best seen in the Yarra Valley in recent memory. Plentiful frosty nights and heavy rains in winter delayed budburst, and spring continued in this mild (and wet) fashion. We had excellent canopies with slowly developing bunches. The mild conditions persisted into January and February. Warm, sunny days (not too warm) with crisp nights and mornings. Perfect for slow ripening, delicate flavours and acid retention. There was no disease threat from rain, and we harvested at leisure. - Tim Shand, Punt Road
TASTING
100% Cabernet Franc, with all the bunches going into the fermenter. Foot stomped once a day; pressed to large, neutral oak. Racked once by gravity; no finings. Very attractive bright ruby with a purple edge. Lifted raspberry, cherry, some bubblegum character; amaro notes too. Nice to sniff thanks to good lift to those red fruits. Entry has good, fresh fruit hit straight up front, a bit more tannin than in previous years but fruity and fine in nature. Nice bitter herb and pepperiness round the edges, and it's got a pulsing liveliness to it. Really satisfying, moreish drink - and there's finesse there, too. Raspberry fruit lingers on finish. - Ed Merrison, CellarHand

June, 2018

Joe Czerwinski

Wine Advocate

89 points

Leafy, fragrant and light, like a bistro Bourgueil, the 2017 Yarra Valley Franc rates high on the drinkability scale that is so trendy in Australia. What that means is that it's quaffable, with only moderate concentration and modest tannins. There's enough cherry fruit to make it go down easy, plus enough savory complexity to keep it interesting through a whole bottle.

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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.