2022 Yering Station Reserve Shiraz Viognier, Yarra Valley

A deep, vibrant and opaque red in the glass. Heady aromas of blueberry, dried herbs, sweet spice, violets, sarsaparilla and nutty oak. Bright, lively, mouth-filling and exuberant in flavour. There's a punchy drive of blueberry, spice and brambly exoticness. The tannins are shapely and the acidity delivers plenty of ping. A lovely example of cooler climate shiraz 25 Aug 2024 Drink 2024–2039

96 points Aaron Brasher therealreview.com

Yering Station Reserve Shiraz Viognier is a flagship wine and one of the true icons of cool-climate Australian Shiraz. Crafted only in exceptional vintages and in limited quantities, this wine is sourced from the estate’s top vineyards in the Yarra Valley, where the cooler conditions and complex soils allow for a Rhône-inspired style that blends power, perfume and elegance. It’s a wine that showcases Yering Station’s mastery of site and style — expressive, precise, and deeply cellar-worthy.

Inspired by the great wines of Côte-Rôtie, the Reserve Shiraz Viognier is co-fermented with a small percentage of Viognier (usually 3 to 5 percent), which lifts the aromatics and enhances the wine’s silkiness. The fruit is hand-picked and fermented in small open vessels, then matured in fine French oak barrels (typically 30 to 40 percent new) for around 16 to 18 months. The winemaking is exacting, but always in service of clarity and balance.

In the glass, it shows intense aromas of dark plum, blackberry, violet, white pepper, and a touch of orange blossom from the Viognier. The palate is medium to full bodied, with a beautiful interplay of dark fruit, spice, floral lift and fine, savoury tannins. There’s tension and structure beneath the generosity — a wine that is as refined as it is expressive, with a long, mineral finish that promises long life in the cellar.

Food pairing: Stunning with roast duck and plum sauce, venison with juniper, chargrilled lamb cutlets, or black pepper beef. Also excellent with aged cheddar or a truffled Brie.

Cellar potential: Built for long-term ageing. Will reward 10 to 20 years in the cellar, evolving into a layered, savoury and perfumed classic.