Description

This vineyard and winery was established in 1983 by Ian and June Marks. The winery makes Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir from old vines in a cool part of the Upper Yarra. Son Andrew and the talented Timo Mayer are in charge of wine making now but the quality is better then ever.

A perfumed, pretty nose. Plenty of Pinot fruits in the red and blue spectrum. Floral. Sleek and silky in the mouth, acid and tannin hum along together seamlessly. Very good wine making has brought this wine to this point. It has the cut and perfume to match with pulled pork and the elegance to compliment delicate sushi dishes. There is a lot of potential to improve over the mid term.

Pinot Noir – This is the most elusive grape. It is relatively early ripening and extremely sensitive to terroir. Its perfect place on earth is the Cote d’Or in Burgundy. So haunting are great red Burgundy’s charms that growers everywhere try to emulate them. Pinot Noir is not just a one trick pony, it can make great reds, rosé, sparkling and even sweet wines, whites on occasion and I’ve tasted a decent fortified Pinot Noir too.

Yarra Valley – A region that is just too big to generalise about. The difference between Upper and Lower Yarra can be the ability to ripen some grapes or not. Great wines are made in the Yarra but it is best to know the producers.