2025 The Wanderer Upper Yarra Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley

From a single vineyard in Yellingbo in the Upper Yarra; 20% whole bunches, 20% new oak. Medium bright crimson. Fragrant and spicy aromas of red and black fruits, rose bush and a touch of allspice. The fruit has thoroughly swallowed up the oak. Medium bodied, with excellent depth and very persistent, fine-grained tannins. Finishes long. A super wine destined to improve over the next six to eight years. Drink to 2036.

97 points Philip Rich for Halliday Wine Companion, August 2026

This is a single vineyard wine from Yellingbo in the Upper Yarra Valley, planted with cane pruned MV6 clone Pinot on free draining volcanic red soil with a northeasterly aspect at 200 metre elevation.

The grapes were cold soaked, with the fermentation in open vats starting with indigenous yeasts. The ferment included 20% whole bunches, with the remainder retained as whole berries, and the must was pumped over and hand plunged.

The wine rested on lees for eleven months in large format French oak of which 30% were new and was not fined or filtered ahead of bottling.

About this producer

The Wanderer is the negociant project of Andrew Marks of Gembrook Hill.

The Wanderer is about wandering the world, trying to find one’s place in it and remaining adventurous. Mark has indeed wandered the world of wine. Early stints with big names like Penfold and Seppelt proceeded years in France, where he worked vintages with Puligny winemaker Étienne Sauzet and Saint-Aubin based négociant Roux Père et Fils. His longest lasting overseas connection has been with Celler Espelt in Empordà on Cataluña’s Costa Brava.

Leading the family vineyard since 2017, the 2005 established The Wanderer label allows him to explore Yarra Valley beyond Gembrook Hill and to branch out in choices at the winery that would not suit the fruit style of that vineyard – to play and learn.

Incredibly, Andrew also found time to establish the Melbourne Gin Company in 2012. An adventurous, man indeed.