Yarra Yering : Dry Red N°1 2019

Tasting notes and serving suggestions for the Dry Red N°1 2019 from Yarra Yering

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a deep red hue with purple highlights.

Nose

The nose displays great aromatic complexity, with notes of ripe black fruit, blackcurrant and blackberry, alongside floral nuances and sweet spices. Hints of cedar and tobacco from aging in French oak barrels harmoniously round out the bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, the Dry Red N°1 2019 stands out for its remarkable elegance and powerful structure. Ultra-fine tannins gently coat the palate, while the fruit’s natural concentration delivers wonderful depth. The hallmark acidity of the Yarra Valley’s cool climate brings freshness and balance through to a lingering finish.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs perfectly with grilled red meats, a herb-roasted leg of lamb, or duck breast with red berries. It also elegantly complements aged hard cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

The Dry Red N°1 2019 can be enjoyed now, yet it also offers significant aging potential and will evolve beautifully over the years. It is best served at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. Decanting for one hour before serving will allow the wine to fully reveal its aromatic complexity.

An outstanding Bordeaux-style blend from Australia’s Yarra Valley

The estate

Founded in 1969 by Dr Bailey Carrodus, Yarra Yering is among the most iconic estates in Australia. This pioneering property produced the region’s first commercial wine since 1921, marking the revival of this winegrowing area after fifty years of inactivity. Located in the region of Victoria, the vineyard benefits from an exceptional terroir. Acquired in 2009 by a group of investors led by Edouard Peter, the estate is now run by the talented winemaker Sarah Crowe, named Winemaker of the Year by James Halliday in 2017. Yarra Yering farms around ninety acres of vines using sustainable practices, certified by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia and EcoVineyards.

The vineyard

The Dry Red N°1 comes from Block N°1, planted on the slopes of Warramate near Gruyere in the Yarra Valley. This vineyard enjoys a due north exposure on clay-silt soils with gravel bands that provide perfect drainage. The site’s elevation protects the vines from late spring frosts that sometimes affect parcels on the valley floor. The vines are grown without irrigation, a rare practice in Australia that favors quality and terroir expression. The Yarra Valley’s continental climate with Mediterranean influences, with an average January temperature of 18.9°C, enables slow, gradual ripening of the grapes.

The vintage

The 2019 vintage is renowned for its exceptional elegance and remarkable structure. The climatic conditions made it possible to obtain grapes of outstanding quality, combining natural concentration with the signature freshness of the valley’s cool climate. This vintage was also crowned Wine of the Year in the Halliday Wine Companion 2022, underscoring the excellence of this cuvée from Victoria.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for the Dry Red N°1 2019 are hand-harvested in the early morning hours into ten-kilogram buckets. After meticulous sorting, the fruit is vinified in small lots in traditional “tea chest” fermenters made of stainless steel lined with wood, with a half-ton capacity, specially designed by Dr Carrodus. Fermentation is accompanied by twice-daily manual punch-downs for gentle tannin extraction. After delicate pressing in a basket press, the wine is transferred by gravity into French oak barrels for aging, allowing it to develop complexity while preserving the finesse of its tannins.

Grape varieties

Cabernet sauvignon (dominant), merlot, malbec, petit verdot