McLaren Vale
Yangarra Roux Beaute Roussanne 2019
The 2019 growing season was very dry, which resulted in incredibly low yields. We had a relatively warm lead up to the ripening period, which produced a very condensed and fast harvest. With Roussanne being a late ripening variety, it faired very well in a season like this, giving rise to concentration, freshness of flavor and marked natural acidity.
Hand-picked from Block 6 (1.0 ha) on March 16th, our oldest Roussanne planting which is now 15 years old. 50% is destemmed, crushed, and filled to 675L ceramic eggs, where it is fermented and remains on the skins for 193 days. The other 50% is pressed into ceramic eggs and fermented off of the skins. The final blend was 40% extended skin batch and 60% without skin contact. The final blend was 40% extended skin batch and 60% without skin contact. Bottled November 2019.
āThis is a rich white, showing impressive structure and plenty of ripe lemon, pear, peach and mangosteen with some savory pastry-like notes, too. The palate has a tangy edge and smooth-toned phenolics carrying plenty of flavor. From organically grown grapes. Drink over the next six years.ā ā 94 points, Nick Stock at James Suckling
Yangarra Old Vine Grenache (MLV) 2022
Yangarra Roussanne 2022
Yangarra Roux Beaute Roussanne 2021
Our unique vineyard with its weathered sand and ironstone soil, starts this Roussanneās journey towards being an extraordinary wine. Months mellowing on grape skins in large ceramic eggs ensure a wine of luxurious texture and distinctive flavour.
VINTAGE SUMMARY
A favourable growing season, with good winter rains, a mild flowering and fruit set period, with continued spring rainfall to ensure a healthy canopy. Yields showed good balance between vine vigor and moderate berry size. The ripening period that began late January was very cool, with some welcome rainfall in mid-February. The delayed harvest, with cold nights and mild sunny days, produced excellent fruit ripeness and intensity. The freshness and bright natural acidity of the fruit were a real feature.
WINEMAKING Hand-picked on the 28thĀ of March from Block 6 (1.0 Ha), our oldest Roussanne planting which is now 17 years old.Ā A small parcel of Roussanne was included in the blend that was picked earlier on the 11thĀ March.Ā A portion is destemmed, crushed, and filled to 675L ceramic eggs. Fermented on skins and remained on skins for 121 days before pressing. Only the free draining fraction retained. The other portion is whole bunch basket pressed into ceramic eggs and fermented without skins. The final blend was 59% extended skin batch and 41% without skins. The blend is exclusively matured in ceramic eggs.Ā Bottled November 2021. Certified Organic/Biodynamic. Varietal: 100% Roussanne
Yangarra Estate High Sands Grenache 2018
VINTAGE SUMMARY
2018 was a text book growing season, with good winter rains, and favourable weather conditions during a very mild spring. We had a generally dry summer, which led to earlier expected picking dates, especially with lower than average yields. By the end of February and early march the Autumnal nights got quite cool, which really slowed down the ripening process.
WINEMAKING
Hand-picked and mechanically sorted. 100% Destemmed, with 50% whole berries. Cold soak. Open fermenters. Plunged. Wild yeast ferment. No pressings are used in this wine. Kept on lees in 100% older French oak for 11 months. We have selected individual barrels that showcase the pedigree of the deep sand, with lifted fragrance, intense fruit expression and fine, gritty long tannin structure. Not fined.
"So rich, complex and intense with a wealth of very ripe, powerful fruit on offer. Blood-orange and pomegranate notes, together with stony aromas, providing a very complex feel. The palate is super powerful and juicy. So very long, so rich and so well defined, showing mouthwatering tannins and a very sleek, long and juicy drive of red-fruit flavor. This has immense power and carries rich, ripe red and blue fruit. Wow. So intense. Drink or hold. Screw cap." - 98 points, James Suckling
āIntense ruby colour, bright and clear throughout the glass. Wine gums, dry earth and wakame on the nose. The palate is medium in weight but full in power. Fruit sits with depth, but the tannin profile is something special in its intensity and grip. Great length, it lingers very long. Time in the cellar is highly recommended as this will age very well. If you're a classical ChĆ¢teauneuf-du-Pape fan, then this is a wine to note.ā - Stuart Knox, The Real Review
Yangarra Shiraz 2019
There are 87 hectares of vineyards at Yangarra, of which 47 are Shiraz made up of thirteen individual blocks. Each block is defined by different aspects and subtle variations of the sand and Ironstone soils that overlie the ancient North Maslin Sands geological formation.
Kept on lees in 20% new French oak, 80% older French oak for 10 months.
Variety: 100% Shiraz
āA mix of blocks, older French oak of varying sizes. Giving shiraz a full orchestra of opportunity. Chewy, medium weight, a little slippery, dark fruited, woody spiced example here. Has lots of ripe attributes but manages a sense of freshness too. Feels very dictionary definition of āgood McLaren Vale shirazā. Will win an armada of fans.ā Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
Yangarra Blanc 2021
Blanc is the result of years of research and quarantine of the best white varieties found amongst the ancient north-west Mediterranean vine types. The fact that these ChĆ¢teauneuf varieties have been successfully blended for so many years, inspired the estate to pursue ChĆ¢teauneufās top whites on the southern coast. The Blanc is produced using the simplest winemaking techniques to showcase the fresh and crunchy style these varieties provide.
VARIETY: 49% Grenache Blanc, 13% Roussanne, 15% Clairette, 18% Picpoul, 5% Bourboulenc
"Fresh and attractive fruit, in the pear and apple spectrum, with some light, pastry-like notes, too. The palate delivers a smooth, crisp impression with a gently chalky finish. I like the restraint here. A blend of 49% grenache blanc, 18% picpoul, 15% Claudette, 13% roussanne and 5% bourboulenc. Drink now. Screw cap." - 92 points, James Suckling
Yangarra Estate Hickinbotham Clarendon Grenache 2021
From a site whose slopes are steeped in rich history, we source this Grenache from unirrigated bush vines planted in 1962. Its distinctive fruit is nurtured with a gentle wild fermentation and matured in grand ācocciopestoā egg shaped amphorae. Capturing a contrasting expression of detailed perfume and a loose knit weave of tannins
Vintage Summary
A favourable growing season, with good winter rains, a mild flowering and fruit set period, with continued spring rainfall to ensure a healthy canopy. Yields showed good balance between vine vigor and moderate berry size. The ripening period that began late January was very cool, with some welcome rainfall in mid-February. The delayed harvest, with cold nights and mild sunny days, produced excellent fruit ripeness and intensity. The freshness and bright natural acidity of the fruit were a real feature.
Winemaking
Hand-picked from the Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard on the 23rdĀ of March and selectively berry sorted. 100% destemmed, crushed and tipped into 1800 L ācocciopestoā stone egg shaped amphoras. The fermentation occurred in the amphoras, a gentle maceration of only wetting the cap. 69% remained on skins in Amphora for 198 days. No pressings are used in this wine. Matured exclusively in the amphora for a total of 13 months. Bottled June 2022.
Tasting Notes
Plush dense red fruit, lavender, white pepper, sour cherries atop Amaro bitters. Finessed power harnessed by crunchy tannins.
Variety: 100% Grenache Noir
Food Pairing: Pork Dumplings with pickled ginger and roasted chilli or Slow roasted lamb shoulder with garlic and oregano
Yangarra Estate Hickinbotham Clarendon Grenache 2020
The growing season was affected by a very hot spring, leading to the lowest yields on record. As the grapes started their ripening process the weather miraculously cooled to a very mild ripening season. This resulted in wonderful concentration of flavour, retention of natural acidity and brightness of fruit, but above all, beautiful finesse and balanced tannins.
Grenache is sourced from our Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard, from a small plot (0.9 Ha) planted in 1962 on the highest ridge of the estate. Hand-picked on the 25th of March and selectively berry sorted. 100% destemmed, crushed and tipped into 1800L ācocciopestoā stone egg shaped amphoras. The fermentation occurred in the amphoras, a gentle maceration of only wetting the cap. 72% remained on skins in amphora for 156 days. No pressings are used in this wine. Matured exclusively in amphora for a total of 11 months. Bottled April 2021.
Medium ruby with raspberries, violets and dried thyme aromas. Red fruits, dry herbs and sandstone flavours are layered throughout. Finesse power harnessed by crunchy tannins.
Variety: 100% Grenache
Yangarra Shiraz 2020
From the old-world RhƓne Syrah to the South Australian red sweetheart, Shiraz evolves once again in the sandy soils of Blewitt Springs. Sourced from six unique blocks over 47 hectares on our elevated site, the elegant Yangarra Shiraz is shaped by its connection to the sand and ironstone soils that overlie the ancient North Maslin Sands geological formation beneath. Prepare for the unexpected.
Sourced from six blocks within the estate. Approximately 50% on sand, 50% on ironstone. Picked between the 4th and 26th of March. Destemmed and selectively sorted. 50% whole berries. Wild yeast ferment. Open fermenters and on skins for up to 20 days. A gentle maceration principle of wetting the cap and only draining and returning when reductive. No pressings are used in this wine. Šlevage on lees in 1 to 3 year French oak puncheons for 7 months. Then blended to older 45hL foudre for a further 7 months. Bottled September 2021.
Variety: 100% Shiraz
Yangarra Preservative Free Shiraz 2022
The PF Shiraz is a preservative free, fruit-driven Shiraz that is intentionally produced to be enjoyed as a young wine. The grapes are grown without herbicides, fungicides or synthetic chemicals and no additions of any kind are used in the winemaking process, such as sulphur (preservative), acid, tannin or finings. The PF Shiraz is medium bodied, showcasing fresh and vibrant fruit characters.
Varietal: 100% Shiraz
"This is a very pure, super-young style of shiraz that is all about the unadulterated taste of blueberry and red-plum shiraz fruit. Smooth, open-knit and plump, it has no sulphites added ā hence the preservative-free acronym. Drink now. Screw cap." - 92 points, James Suckling
First Drop Mother’s Ruin McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
AN ODE TO THE 'LUNCHEON CLARET' - PASS THE DECANTER!
This well-balanced expression of McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon is an ode to the 'luncheon claret'. The fruit is from a vineyard with good breeding in the foothills of Blewitt Springs. This Cabernet has been made in a soft elegant, aromatic style. It has First Drop drinkability, so bottoms up!
- Colour: Dark plum
- Bouquet: Delicate cassis and hi-toned blue fruits with hints of eucalypt and florals.
- Palate: Black and blue fruits with a round mid-palate, an elegant core of tannins and a textured finish.
- Cellaring: Drink up, but also a 10+ year proposition.