This was a recommendation from Emmanuelle from Giant Steps, whose partner Ben is one of the winemakers at Punt Road.
The Yarra Hill winery was set up only a few years back in 1999, and can process a pretty impressive 3,000 tonnes each year. The Punt Road brand is younger, started in 2001 and is only a fraction of their output, the rest being contract winemaking. The cellar door is a lovely old frontier style building and makes for a nice stop while in the Yarra, but see if you can spot the tall stainless steel winery tucked out of sight behind the trees as you drive up.
Ben was busy in the winery and things were pretty hectic at the cellar door preparing for an industry barbecue they were hosting the following evening, but Simon the cellar door manager kindly took some time out to show me around. From the top of the tall stainless steel tanks there was an impressive view over this lower flatter part of the Yarra Valley, surrounded by Cabernet sauvignon vines which apparently do especially well here.
The 2005 Punt Road Cabernet sauvignon is a fruit driven style, with the classic identifier for varietal Cabernet sauvignon of blackcurrant and a touch of stalky character giving great balance to the fruit.
Their 2007 Punt Road Sauvignon blanc was so fresh with primary fruit and just a touch of bready yeast it reminded me of being in a winery with newly fermenting wines. A new world style very zesty with ripe pear fruit flavours. I found that all of the Punt Road wines were decent quality, well balanced appealing styles – commercially minded and well made.
In a purely selfish move, I am asking, no begging you to either sample or visit Yarra Yering winery before your time is up there. I’ve just had their 2004 No. 1 Cab Sauv, simply stunning stuff in an Old World style. I even broke my £30 upper limit for any wine budget to lay my hands on one.
On Yering Station, I’ve enjoyed their Burgundian Pinot Noir many times, but the two bottles I’ve sampled of the MVR white blend have been too sulphurous to properly enjoy.
By: Shon on January 14, 2008
at 10:28 am
Hey Shon,
Next time I’m in the Yarra Valley, I will try and get along to Yara Yering, as you’re not the only person to mention them favourably since I was there – Tom who I was working with in Sydney recommended their wines too
even though this is on the Punt Road post – just in case you’re interested, here are my tasting notes for the two Yering Station wines you mentioned:
Yering Station Pinot Noir 2006.
fairly restrained nose, nice balance of fruit and savoury on nose. Palate has lovely warm texture and soft fruit: dusty plums lingering well.
Yering Station Marsanne Viognier Rousanne (MVR) 2006.
Rich aromatic style, with stone fruits and spice on finish. – A pretty big blousy style of Rhone style white, more richer than I would usually choose to drink..
By: Alex on January 16, 2008
at 4:47 am