It’s interesting to note that Oakridge winemaker David Bicknell considers the 2010 vintage in the Yarra to have been superior for red wines:
“The synopsis of 2010 has been one of a good all-rounder where Chardonnay in particular has garnered much favour. I still think of it the other way, that is, as a red dominant vintage. The Pinot Noirs had that wonderful combination of fragrance and structure, and for me that theme is continued into medium bodied reds.”
Well, I’m certainly one to have praised the all-round nature of the 2010 Yarra Valley vintage and I also championed Chardonnay from that vintage…although as I taste more and more 2011s I begin to suspect that white variety fared even better in the cooler and wetter conditions that followed – provided, of course, that you’re talking about a quality producer.
Oakridge didn’t produce a lot of Shiraz in 2010 and that’s why we see a move away from single vineyard expression in this wine. It’s a blend of two sites incorporating whole berry and whole bunch techniques. And yes, it’s another Shiraz that has more than a passing resemblance to Pinot, with a silky texture and an emphasis on aromatics.
Red cherries over mulberry with attractive smoky corners, a little turned earth and the smell of beef and bacon pies. Twiggy and spiced with black pepper and a gorgeous thread of mace woven through the palate, providing adult complexity and trace bitterness. A savoury wine with sweeter fruit foils. It flows like a ribbon and finishes with an intricate lattice of exquisitely textured tannin. I’m not leaving myself much room to maneuver when I get around to tasting the 864 flagship Shiraz but I’ll just rate it as I see it. Excellent
Region: Yarra Valley
Alcohol: 13.7%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $38
Tasted: July 2012