Sourced from individual blocks within our estate, Reserve wines encompass the very best fruit from the most exceptional vintages. Each block is hand harvested, with each bunch surveyed in the vineyard to determine its Reserve status. Often featuring our original 1972 plantings, these complex wines offer unique expressions of varietal, time and place.
The 2021 growing season will forever be remembered as one of the greats in the Upper Yarra. Mild steady temperatures and average even rainfall resulted in good yields as well as balance and complex flavour development across all varieties. Harvest was able to commence in early March, which is preferable to the hotter daytime temperatures typically observed in February.
Fruit from a single block (planted 1972) was handpicked early in the morning into small buckets, with bunch selection done in the vineyard. 70% de-stemmed into an open fermenter with 30% whole bunches, then chilled for a four-day cold soak before fermentation. Fermentation was wild with daily hand plunging. The wine was pressed off skins directly to seasoned 500L French oak puncheons for maturation. The final wine was gently racked and bottled without fining or filtration.
Very concentrated with bright red-berry aromatics while retaining high toned spice, including nutmeg, white pepper and soft notes of allspice. An alluring juiciness draws you in for deeper inspection.
The palate is immediately awash with red plum and Christmas cherries – a juicy fruit-laden path that began on the nose. Finely shaved tannins keep everything in shape. It’s tantalisingly more-ish. We only used our old vine material (planted in 1972), and you can tell. There is depth and seriousness, and while the wine is immediately approachable on release, we see plenty of rewards waiting from some time in the cellar. Drink 2025 - 2040.
97 points, Halliday Wine Companion 2023
“Beautifully perfumed and pure. Redolent of raspberry coulis, peony, Asian spices and potpourri. Supremely elegant and structured, there's a gentle meatiness to go with the pure red fruits. The tannins are silky and persistent. Finishes very long and too good to spit!”
Philip Rich, August 2022
