The 2011 vintage in the Yarra Valley has delivered a number of very impressive white wines. The reds are a little more variable but, if you’re willing to embrace vintage variation and you choose carefully, you’ll find some pleasure on offer.
This isn’t of the same quality as the previous release which took out a trophy at the last Royal Melbourne Wine Show. I’m not a fan of the wine show circuit in its current format but the 2011 Royal Melbourne proved that if you can gather a number of astute palates who are on the same page then you can get meaningful results. Anyway, the 2010 Medhurst Pinot has sold out and I suspect the trophy has a lot to do with that – along with the fact that it’s a terrific wine; perfumed, complex, medium bodied and persistent with excellent texture.
Here though, we have a lighter bodied, simpler expression. It smells of slightly under-ripe strawberries, cherries, sap and herbs. The acid is quite firm but it settles over time. Tart cranberry notes on the palate alongside a good hit of pepper spice. Plenty of structure. It meshed well during three days of tasting but never hit any great heights. Nice drinking though. Good
Region: Yarra Valley
Alcohol: 12.7%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $40
Tasted: June 2012