2018 Airlie Bank Franc

Airlie Bank

Australia / Yarra Valley / Airlie Bank

Now into our fifth instalment of this wine, the fruit practically picks and makes itself. I have never seen a winemaking style (whole bunch, old oak, early bottling/release) resonate so quickly with amateurs and connoisseurs alike. Franc seemed to enjoy the warm, dry conditions the most of all varieties in 2018. An excellent, even crop was set, with no green berries. We let it hang, and have achieved the deepest and most profound flavours you’ll have seen in this wine. Hallmark punchy aromas and bright fruit are still there though. - Tim Shand, Punt Road

November, 2018

Gary Walsh

The Wine Front

92 points

Blackcurrant, ripe raspberry, ash and lots of spice, sweet capsicum. Light bodied, but good intensity of small berried fruits, sappy green and spicy things are punctuation marks here, rather than text, acidity is fresh and slaty, tannin forms a fine dust, and the finish is cool and fresh. Great thing to drink.

May, 2019

Matthew Jukes

100 Best Australian Wines 2019/20

I had no hesitation in putting this wine into the reckoning for 100 Best on the very first sniff, because it is one of the most aromatically exciting and accurate wines in this report. Refreshing, cool blackcurrant leaf notes, with the faintest touch of rhubarb, excite the senses. Texturally this is a light red wine with bitter twist of red fruit and I adore this shape and size of flavour. I think people will chill it a touch, too, just to heighten the incredible whole bunch impact of those super-ripe stems on the perfume.

Steve Leszczynski

Salt Magazine June 2019

"Bottled whilst fresh and bursting with juvenile charm," says the back label. It's oozing cool with a captivating personality and as it struts with streetwise appeal. Violets and purple flowers, blue and purple fruit pulsate through its veins. Charge to this and feel its vibrant energy.

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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.