From what is now, among wine enthusiasts, a rather famous vineyard in the Upper Yarra. Wild yeast fermented, matured in one new and five old French barriques with partial malo allowed and some stirring. The Out of Step Wine Company’s first dalliance with the grape.
The warm year is brought into relief by the flavours. Pineapple, caramel, melon and white peach with a funky, leesy overlay. A bit of the ol’ struck match and a modicum of woody spice. It’s got some give in the mouth yet there’s sufficient acidity to animate the wine. I’m not entirely taken with the flow and the gruff, firm tannin which remains overly dominant on the second day of tasting. A decent if compact wine though. 87
Region: Yarra Valley
Alcohol: 13.1%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $30
Tasted: February 2014
Retasted in a small single blind bracket of six 2012 and 2013 Chardonnays and those phenolics seem to have integrated significantly. They’re still a little rough but the wine flows better and feels more cohesive. Rated 89 points this time round – for those keeping score at home.
Duly noted