Yabby Lake Chardonnay is on another plane to the rest of the Mornington and no wine yet released from the outstanding 2010 vintage is its rival (the Kooyong single vineyards are yet to come). This is a truly crafted chardonnay of immense texture, profound persistence and mineral focus, carrying finely textured mouthfeel long through the […]

read

This is a Stonier Reserve of considerable proportions, clocking in at no less than 14.5% alcohol, yet it manages to uphold a focus of lifted fruit purity and balanced acid tension that carries it long and clean through the finish. Fruit and oak step up to meet its dimensions, thanks to impressive concentration and purity […]

read

The energy and control of the pristine 2010 vintage is on full show in this impressively focused chardonnay. Pure lime zest and crunchy grapefruit lead out, with nuances of anise and nutmeg, singing with taut acid drive and excellent line and length, carrying long and energetic through the finish, and promising some years of life […]

read

Inherent approachability meets stimulating detail in this impressive vintage for Main Ridge, capturing the intensity and presence of this single estate vineyard in fresh white peach, grapefruit, lemon zest, fig, lemon butter, honey and mixed spice. For all of this complexity and generosity, it pulls into a refined and honed finish, drawn out long and […]

read

Sheer determination and seamless calm characterise the personality of Block Six in 2010, quite a paradox as it takes full advantage of taut malic acidity to maintain a high-tensile focus, yet without the searing disjointedness that marks so many that attempt this edgy style. Sensational drive and energy of pure lemon, white peach and grapefruit […]

read

Paringa is home to an arsenal of shiraz that has proven capable of outgunning anything in the country on the wine show circuit, thanks to its inimitable ability to bring immense power to an inherently cool climate demeanour. 2008 exemplifies this style, a powerful and ripe Paringa, loaded with exquisite black fruits of all kinds, […]

read

Red Claw is no generic second label, rather a sophisticated estate chardonnay crafted from the same vineyards and hand harvested, whole bunch pressed, French oak barrel fermented and aged on lees in precisely the manner of Yabby Lake’s top chardonnays. On its sheer consistency alone, this should be Yabby Lake Estate Chardonnay and all above […]

read

This wine is a revelation in a line of sub-$25 Mornington Peninsula pinots, because the fruit presence and harmonious balance on parade here simply walk all over everything else. Yabby unites cherry/berry fruits with brambles, savoury herbs and the kind of firm, fine tannins that suggest it will improve with a year or two. $23.50 […]

read

Stonier is a household name in the pinot noir world, all thanks to this wine and its perpetual availability and frequent discounting. Very few wines at this price deliver pure pinot fruit of such exuberance: strawberries, cherry kernel, berry compote and a background note of savoury brambles. A firm, fine structure and impressive persistence make […]

read

I’ll never forget the sight of pinot noir shrivelling before my eyes on the Mornington Peninsula on Black Saturday in early February 2009. Kudos to makers able to produce pinot at all in this vintage from hell, and legend status to any wine able to hold its freshness three years on. There’s a pretty, primary […]

read