2026 Medhurst Yarra Valley Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley

The 2026 Yarra Valley Pinot Noir is one of the more charming Pinot Noirs we’ve tasted so far from this Yarra vintage. Pouring a surprisingly deep colour, the wine greets with lovely, lifted aromas that blend red and dark fruit with subtle earthy notes. The light to medium-bodied palate delights with an immediate attack of fruit, perfectly weighted and with a nice dense core that echoes the aromas.

While youthful at the time of writing, this will open nicely in the months ahead. You won’t need food to enjoy this wine, but if you happen to be in the mood for some light pottering in the kitchen, how about a nice charcuterie board, maybe with a nice duck rillette if you local deli happens to offer some (or you happen to be whipping up a batch anyway…). Would also pair well with something like Serrano-wrapped pork tenderloin stuffed with prunes and pine nuts.

More about this wine

The fruit for this wine was sourced from Medhurst’s own, mature Pinot vines. The fruit was handpicked and destemmed into small open fermenters for a pre-ferment cold soak. During fermentation, the must was pumped over twice per day with some light plunging towards the end of ferment to ensure optimum extraction. The pressed wine was pressed into stainless steel and racked ahead of maturation in a combination of French oak barriques, hogsheads and puncheons, most of which were well-seasoned.

About this producer

Medhurst Wines was established in 2000 with the first plantings at the Gruyere property owned by Ross and Robyn Wilson. Located on the western side of the Warramate Ranges, the north facing site sits at an elevation of 130 to 220 metres. The initial Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz vines have since been joined by Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Malbec. The wines are made on-site by winemakers Rohan Smith and Kathy McBride.