Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce Marty Singh of Precipice Wines and his very first release. One really shouldn’t create hype at this stage but this auspicious debut is a very, very good wine. Good enough to already have me looking forward to the 2013 Willow Lake Vineyard Chardonnay and Syrah that will follow in time. Grapes were sourced from the Hyde Park vineyard in the Coldstream region of the Yarra Valley. Marty’s been in the industry for 20 years “selling, drinking and making wine” alongside such talent as Dave Bicknell and Adrian Rodda. Could Oakridge one day become a smaller version of the Yarra “finishing school” that De Bortoli has functioned as for over a decade?
Incorporating 20% whole bunches, 100% indigenous yeasts and spending ten months in French oak puncheons – a third of which were new – it’s energetic, complexly spiced, freshly fruited and structured by layered tannins that do an outstanding job of sculpting the wine. Hints of bacon hock, pepper, brown spice and star anise accompany raspberries and cherries with some darker briary characters in tow. It’s not a stalky, mescal number. The fruit holds the whole bunches with aplomb. They contribute more to fragrance and texture. Medium-bodied, detailed and persistent, it improved over three days of tasting and has a bright future ahead. 93+
Region: Yarra Valley
Alcohol: 13.0%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $35
Tasted: November 2013
‘had heard of Precipice’s pending release and was curious as to how a “first effort’ would hit the palette.
An excellent effort .. He’s raised the bar and set a new standard. There’s no doubt he knows his wine and will do the lable proud with his next release. It will please and readily satisfy those who have yet to get on-board.
It is a stellar first effort and the pricing is good. Really stood out in a bracket of cool climate Shiraz/Syrah.