Tag Archives: Gembrook Hill

The Vincast with Andrew Marks aka The Wanderer and Melbourne Gin Company

Gembrook Hill was established back in 1983 in the most southern part of the Yarra Valley, and over the past 31 years has built a reputation for producing some of the finest cool-climate expressions in Australia, whilst maintaining an artisan cult status. The second of three children Andrew was the one to follow a career in the wine industry which has led to him working for wineries large and small all around the world. Although he is now very involved in Gembrook Hill with his parents he has more recently started his own winemaking project under The Wanderer moniker and also started producing a gin, which all tie together with his own philosophy influenced by his upbringing and experiences.

Follow The Wanderer on Twitter and visit the website

Follow Melbourne Gin Company on Twitter & Facebook and visit the website

Follow James on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Follow The Vincast on Twitter, subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher

Andrew Marks

Andrew Marks

Leave a comment

Filed under Podcasts

Sommeliers Australia Yarra Valley Sub-regional Tasting – 17/06/2013

The Wanderer Yarra Pinot Noir 2010
Bright red cherry spicy nutty camembert. Soft smooth silky fresh, pure and light, pleasant yet persistent.

The Wanderer Yarra Pinot Noir 2011
More strawberry almost fairy floss sherbet. More acid tightness, bright very brisk and fresh, a bite on the mid-palate, a touch sharp for now.

The Wanderer Yarra Pinot Noir 2012
More closed and tight on the nose, less overt fresh fruit, still red. Rounder smoother yet still some savoury bite, good acids but approachable fruits.

The Wanderer Upper Yarra Pinot Noir 2010
Earthy slightly leathery forest notes mushroom. Soft but full of flavour, long finish, great balance, a little wild.

The Wanderer Upper Yarra Pinot Noir 2011
A tad muted in comparison . Some concentration of tannin and acid, quite mature and tight, another one bites the dust.

The Wanderer Upper Yarra Pinot Noir 2012
Salad with dressing, I think Greek, some soy balsamic savoury notes. Quite wild and raw almost feral, oxidatively handled, still fresh but no primary fruit notes, very against the grain.

Mayer Bloody Hill Pinot Noir 2010
Tight slightly meaty, mushroomy earth. Sweet core of dark red black fruits, purity freshness yet balance savoury open.

Mayer Bloody Hill Pinot Noir 2011
Tighter more earthy mushroom density. Feral barnyard wildness, as un-Yarra Valley as you can get, dare I say Burgundian? Great acid but intense savoury notes.

Mayer Bloody Hill Pinot Noir 2012
Almost chocolatey black forest cherry. Tightly wound briskness and freshness.

Mayer Close Planted Pinot Noir 2010
Intense dirty earthy yet bright and fresh nose. Clean red fruits, classic Yarra Valley style of pinot noir.

Mayer Close Planted Pinot Noir 2011
Slightly more closed, fresh clean lean friendly and open, atypical of the vintage, full and long.

Mayer Close Planted Pinot Noir 2012
Density and earthy savoury notes. Concentration and intense acids, pow punch bold yet light and fresh.

Gembrook Hill Villages Pinot Noir 2010
Tightr closed pale nose. Fresh pure slightly red fruit sweet, pleasant varietal regional character.

Gembrook Hill Villages Pinot Noir 2011
Meaty red tomato savoury raspberries. Zingy acids very tight light and sharp, extremely fresh.

Gembrook Hill Villages Pinot Noir 2012
Very closed and reductive. Too tightly wound for now, acid a little too forward.

Gembrook Hill Pinot Noir 2010
Exquisitely subtle beautifully balanced. Complete yet tight, needs much time, simply stunning. Even better than the first time I tasted it way back in 2011.

Gembrook Hill Pinot Noir 2011
Meaty red sauce again, more concentrated and a little bit flimsy.

Gembrook Hill Pinot Noir 2012
Tight. Focused bright crunchy acids, will open up nicely in time.

Leave a comment

Filed under Tasting Notes