If you haven’t listened to it already, on Episode 123 of The Vincast podcast I chatted with winemaker Mac Forbes, who has been working for over 10 years to change perceptions of sub-regional Yarra Valley. He generously gave me a bottle of his 2015 Coldstream Pinot Noir and I was thrilled to share my impressions of the wine here on Let’s Taste. I was particularly thrilled to share the experience with my six-month-old son Ollie!
Mac Forbes Coldstream Pinot Noir 2015 – RRP $50.00
Having worked in the Yarra Valley and spent plenty of time driving around it, I’m amazed at how geographically large and diverse it is. Mac Forbes has been one of the most important wine producers that has attempted to show how different each part of the region can be. He does this through the medium of grape variety, having released a number of sub-regional wines every vintage since 2004. I was thrilled to sit down with him and hear more about his journey and what led him to take such a serious risk in choosing this approach.
On this edition of Let’s Taste with The Intrepid Wino, I open another bottle from my personal cellar. This is the third episode looking at wines from well-known Yarra Valley producer Yering Station, and the second looking at their Reserve Shiraz Viognier. In this case it is the 2005 – under scew-cap this time – let me know what you think in the comments below!
In the latter half of the 19th Century, there were a number of very important arrivals into the Yarra Valley region, less than 100km east of Melbourne, who happened to be Swiss. These were important viticulturists who made a name for Australian wine in Paris and London, winning hearts, palates and medals. One of these pioneering Swiss families was the de Purys, who established Yeringberg in the area now known as Coldstream. My guest on this episode is Guill de Pury, the third-generation owner responsible for reviving the wine growing on the property at the end of the 1960s. He shared the important history of the family, the region, the farm and his own journey of (re)discovery.
Yeringberg was my epiphany producer; the 1997 Pinot Noir is the reason I continued working in the wine industry. Back when I worked at Domaine Chandon in the Yarra Valley, I went to Yeringberg’s Open Day to taste, and bought these two 2004 wines. I’ve relinquished them from my cellar and thought I’d share my impressions. Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Yeringberg is one of the most historic viticultural sites in the Yarra Valley, and is also one of the oldest family owned wineries in Australia. The de Pury family have been in this part of Victoria since the 1860s, and have an incredible connection with their land, farming a number of different agricultural products. They make a number of outstanding wines, and the Yeringberg sits at the top. I opened the 2005 vintage from my cellar and shared my impressions, let me know what you think in the comments below.
Back when I worked in the cellar door at Domaine Chandon in the Yarra Valley, one of my colleagues lived at Coldstream Hills as her partner was one of the winemakers. She was kind enough to put together a mixed dozen of reserve wines of various vintages, some of which are still in my cellar. I thought it was about time to open this bottle, the Reserve Pinot Noir 2002. What are your thoughts, do you agree? Let me know in the comments.
The Vincast - a Wine Podcast with The Intrepid Wino
Wine - Wine People - Wine Culture
A podcast about wine, wine culture and wine people. Every week a different guest from the wine industry joins host The Intrepid Wino (aka James Scarcebrook) for a casual chat about the world of wine.
All content on this podcast remains the sole property of the author unless otherwise acknowledged and appropriately credited. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of content without express and written permission from the author is strictly prohibited. Content may be used for reproduction provided that full and clear credit is given to James Scarcebrook and/or The Intrepid Wino with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.