2019 Mac Forbes Strathbogie Dry Riesling RS3
Regular price £28.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%"A joyful wine! " ..." A very refreshing style, low alcohol (12%) and it is unbelievably bright on both nose and palate", David Crossley's Wide World of Wine.
Tasting Notes
Unusually for an RS this was a blend of first and second pick. First pick went straight to concrete for ferment which is so vivid and riveting, blended with some second pick fermented in large oak, bringing a fine supple texture that veers from the highly recognisable RS style we know to a structural clarity that seems just a little more amplified than normal.
Mac has chosen not to provide traditional tasting notes for any of his wines. His aim is that his wines hopefully capture vineyard life and vitality. As such the wines are constantly evolving. He believes that the only tasting notes that matter are yours!
The Vineyard
"Over the past 15 years, we have always been overwhelmed by the presence of our Caveat vineyard in the Strathbogie Ranges. A supposedly sealed road that wanders north from Yea climbing to the elevated granite soils that sit 600m above sea level. Generally 5 degrees cooler than the valley floor, this small vineyard is surrounded not by other vineyards but rather unforgiving grazing land."
The Vintage
A hot and exceptionally dry growing season, yields were low in 2019, but produced grapes with an intense and complex fruit profile different to what we had seen from this site previously. The RS3 is a blend of two harvest days - March 6th and 14th. It was fermented and matured mainly in neutral French oak barriques, with a small component being drawn from our brand new 2000L concrete tank. "
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Riesling |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 12% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9 units |
Type | White Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Yarra Valley |
Appellation | Victoria |
2016 Mac Forbes EB30 'Still Waters' Nebbiolo
Regular price £36.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Only 1,500 bottles were made, and with just a few bottles left, snap this up before it's gone!
Tasting Notes
Mac has chosen not to provide traditional tasting notes for any of his wines. His aim is that his wines hopefully capture vineyard life and vitality. As such the wines are constantly evolving. He believes that the only tasting notes that matter are yours!
From just outside of Yarra Glen comes this very pretty addition to Mac's EB - 'experimental batch'- range. Wonderful strawberry fruit character, heaps of fine tannin said one taster.
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2016 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Nebbiolo |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Yarra Valley |
Appellation | Victoria |
2017 Mac Forbes Coldstream Pinot Noir
Regular price £31.68 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Utterly charming and generous wine from Mac's warmest Pinot site.
An understated, elegant Pinot with fine ripe red fruit well balanced with freshness and hints of spicy oak. Subtle and long, hints of minerality with great purity.
Tasting Notes
Mac has chosen not to provide traditional tasting notes for any of his wines. His aim is that his wines hopefully capture vineyard life and vitality. As such the wines are constantly evolving. He believes that the only tasting notes that matter are yours!
The Wine
"This is our warmest Pinot vineyard," says Mac, "so we are conscious of protecting the fruit from hot prevailing winds and high temperatures. The soils hold much of the afternoon heat so this is usually the first vineyard picked. Due to the increased exposure, this wine displays greater fruit punctuation supported by a firm yet dense tannin bed."
Critical Acclaim
"Mac Forbes’s pinot noirs – not to mention his gorgeous rieslings – are the epitome of elegant freshness, with this equivalent of a Burgundy village all about purity and clarity of red fruit and subtle savouriness."
David Williams, The Observer Magazine, 14th April 2019
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Alan's Personal Notes
"This is delicious!! Not many times I reach for a second bottle but I did tonight!! Delicate soft berry fruit, fresh acidity but not overwhelming, soft, supple tannins. Light bodied but with great length, structure and complexity- a true masterpiece!!"
Specifications
Year | 2017 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 11.5 alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 8.63 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Drink until 2027. We recommend decanting this wine prior to serving. (14-16 degrees) |
Maturation | 11 months in old oak |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Coldstream, Yarra Valley |
Appellation | Victoria |
2018 Mac Forbes EB42 Summer Lovin' Pinot Meunier
Regular price £30.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Pinot Meunier made for smashing in the sunshine. Such a gluggable delight from Mac Forbes!
Tasting Notes
Mac has chosen not to provide traditional tasting notes for any of his wines. His aim is that his wines hopefully capture vineyard life and vitality. As such the wines are constantly evolving. He believes that the only tasting notes that matter are yours!
"This is our second go at a Pinot Meunier. Like its predecessor (EB26) this light red is best served chilled on a balmy day….because sometimes, all you want is a refreshing thirst quenching red." says Mac.
Mac's had a few digs at Pinot Meunier over the last few years, it's as light as a feather. A crunchy nouveau light red that loves a little chill before being served.
Mac's got great feel when crafting Pinot Noir, same deal here with the cousin variety. Chill it down and drink in the warmer months!
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2018 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Meunier |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 10.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 7.88 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2022 |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Yarra Valley |
Appellation | Victoria |
2017 Mac Forbes EB38 'Showdown' #2 Pinot Noir, Syrah
Regular price £26.40 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Drink this slightly chilled for a super Summer red.
Tasting Notes
Mac has chosen not to provide traditional tasting notes for any of his wines. His aim is that his wines hopefully capture vineyard life and vitality. As such the wines are constantly evolving. He believes that the only tasting notes that matter are yours!
Mac Forbes loves to tinker with new blends in his EB ('experimental batch') range: 2016 was Nebbiolo/Pinot, 2017 Pinot/Syrah.
This meeting of varieties was made famous in the Hunter Valley where some of the country's greatest wines were made half a century ago. Mac brings the blend to the Yarra with great results. The richness and spiciness of the Syrah, the prettiness of the Pinot, the varieties get along brilliantly.
Slippery, spicy, floral and delicious, this is one experiment that has definitely paid dividends for Mac.
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2017 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Pinot Noir & Syrah |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 12.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | Red Blend |
Cellaring Potential | Now - 2024 |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Food Matching | BBQ lamb chops. |
Origin | Yarra Valley |
Appellation | Victoria |
2008 Mac Forbes RS37 Medium Riesling
Regular price £30.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%This Riesling follows in the footsteps of the previous off-dry Rieslings first made in 2005.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Pale Straw
Nose
Aromatic, perfume and citrus (lemon) with higher floral notes.
Palate
Fine and expressive with great length and perseverance. Sugar is textural but the wine doesn’t show the sugar.
In the Vineyard
One of the oldest vineyards in the Strathbogie ranges, Antcliff Chase vineyard was planted in 1982 by the Bennett Family and at its highest point reaches 580m above sea level. The vineyard is dry grown (no irrigation) and crops are kept to approximately 3t/ac. The soil is predominately decomposed granitic sandy loam, which is relatively unfertile.
The Vintage
2008 in the Strathbogie couldn’t have been better. A moderate summer with minimal rain and cool nights. This was ideal conditions for growing Riesling. Harvest was in late March '08.
Winemaking
2008 provided the perfect vintage albeit on the slightly warm side. They picked the off-dry Riesling first (of three picks) and crushed/destemmed the fruit into the press where they let the juice sit on skins for about 1 hour. The juice was then gently pressed into a cold settling tank where it remained for 36 hours. The clear juice was then racked with some solids into barrel and tank to ferment wild. The tank ferment was held at 9 degrees C and when the wine became drier on the palate, they arrested the ferment by dropping the temperature and adding sulphur. No other additives were made to this wine (ie. No yeast, fining, enzymes, acid or nutrients). The wine was left on lees for about 4 months before being filtered and bottled.
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Alan's Personal Notes
"Just loving Mac's R37 - high in acidity and a fair whack of residual sugar, but what an extremely well made and balanced glass of wine. Searing fresh acidity matched by complex honeyed sugar characteristics. Stunning and a perfect 'pair o'teeth!"
Specifications
Year | 2008 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Riesling |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 9.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 7.13 units |
Type | White Wine |
Food Pairings |
Pork, Shellfish, Poultry, Appetizers and snacks, Cured Meat |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Dietary Requirements | Vegetarian & Vegan Friendly |
Origin |
Strathbogie Ranges |
Appellation | Victoria |
2022 Mac Forbes Yarra Valley Chardonnay
Regular price £26.99 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%This may be Mac’s ‘entry level’ Chard but the wonderful 2017 vintage has offered up a top drink here. This is one of those 'cult following' wines that always sells out and offers terrific value.
Tasting Notes
Mac has chosen not to provide traditional tasting notes for any of his wines. His aim is that his wines hopefully capture vineyard life and vitality. As such the wines are constantly evolving. He believes that the only tasting notes that matter are yours!
The Vineyards
The Yarra Valley is one of the homes of Australian Chardonnay and is definitely an area of expertise for Mac Forbes.
All of his Chardonnays strike that lovely balance between old-world elegance and finesse, with new world fruit and freshness. They’re superb. It's a blend of fruit from our Healesville, Hoddles Creek and Woori Yallock vineyards, designed to capture the essence of Yarra Valley Chardy.
Critical Acclaim
The 2017 Chardonnay is a light-bodied, slightly creamy-textured wine, fermented and aged in older oak. White peach and pineapple notes dominate, with some custard-like leesiness to add layers and length. Enjoy over its first several years of life.
The 2017 will mature beautifully as noted by Gary Walsh in his 93+ point review.
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2022 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 11.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.4 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Generally, they can be enjoyed young but cellaring will reward with increased complexity. Drink until 2027 |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Yarra Valley |
Appellation | Victoria |
2018 Mac Forbes Yarra Junction Pinot Noir
Regular price £31.68 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Succulent, vibrant single-vineyard Pinot Noir from Mac Forbes. A fine-boned Pinot of great elegance and finesse - a real crowd pleaser!
Tasting Notes
Mac has chosen not to provide traditional tasting notes for any of his wines. His aim is that his wines hopefully capture vineyard life and vitality. As such the wines are constantly evolving. He believes that the only tasting notes that matter are yours!
The Wine
The Yarra Junction Pinot Noir is the softest and perhaps the most generous of the 2018 suite of single-vineyard wines from Mac Forbes. It feels like the vintage has given it an extra width, not something generally associated with Mac's exquisitely fine-boned Pinot Noir expression. The perfume is sweet and floral, the mouthfeel is light and devastatingly easy to drink. It's the wine that you won't be able to keep your hands off.
The Vineyard
Yarra Junction is his coolest site located in the far eastern Yarra Valley, next to Wesburn. Situated on gravelly soils, this northeastern site receives cooling influences of the surrounding mountains and is protected from the afternoon sun. Yarra Junction will appeal to those who prefer a more accessible style. It offers femininity and fragility almost within the context of a classic European Pinot.
The Vintage
2018 growing season was broken into two halves. With a wet winter and spring, the vines surged into summer with good vigour and available soil moisture (coupled with high disease pressure). Summer shifted gear into above-average temperatures and below-average rainfall.
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2018 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Pinot Noir |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 11.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 8.25 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | Drink until 2027 - we recommend decanting this wine prior to serving (14-16° C). |
Maturation | 11 months in old oak |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Yarra Valley |
Appellation | Victoria |
2019 Mac Forbes Woori Yallock ‘Ferguson Vineyard’ Chardonnay
Regular price £49.50 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Woori Yallock has gained cult status for Mac and its not hard to see why.
Only 1,500 bottles produced
Tasting Notes
This is not about fruit, but about structure, with lemon pith, rock salts, pear skin running the taut, vibrant palate, to a humming and saline finish. Very much in youth, this is powerful now, just starting to reveal itself, and will certainly continue to impress over the coming years in your cellar.
The Wine
This is arguably the finest Chardonnay to ever be produced by the hands of Mac Forbes. The Woori Yallock vineyard is Mac's baby. Planted in 1995, the 'School House Block is owned by the Ferguson family. Mac has been working the vineyard since 2012 and the resultant wines have been spectacular. This is a Chardonnay with amazing intensity. It's wound tight but has a glorious generosity of fruit. Oak sits firmly in the background, Mac allowing the site to shine in the glass.
The Vineyard
Sitting behind the Waramate hills, this area encompasses both red volcanic and grey loam soils making it slightly more complicated to pinpoint a clear identity of this subregion. The undulating hills provide protection from the drier winds, the rainfall is slightly higher and the perfume, weight and structure appears more dense and effortless, pulling through seamlessly to the back palate.
De-stemmed and crushed before pressing, partial malo 10 months in old oak, indigenous, no fining, sterile filtration.
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2019 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Chardonnay |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 11.5% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 8.63 units |
Type | White Wine |
Cellaring Potential |
Drink 2022 until 2030 We recommend decanting this wine prior to serving. (10-15 degrees) |
Maturation |
De-stemmed & crushed before pressing. 10 months in old oak. - not very noticeable |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Woori Yallock, Yarra Valley |
Appellation | Victoria |
2021 Mac Forbes EB77 Big Willy Nebbiolo
Regular price £30.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Perfumed, lithe and floral this is Nebbiolo at its most ethereal.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Oh so pale ruby in colour, with a slight rusty Neb tinge.
Nose
A floral and plump nose, red rose, red apple, confected cherry and ripe blood plum.
Palate
The palate is so, fresh and underpinned by sneaky hallmark Neb tannin. High acid, low alcohol, plenty of raspberry, cherry, spice, and savory tannin carrying the wine all the way to the back of the mouth. A lighter approach to the variety, a great light red pour or with a pizza!
It’s pure, fresh, and light as a feather. Delightful.
When Mac Forbes’ resident Brit Willy P accidentally blew the top off a puncheon, he inadvertently created the perfect open-top fermenter for making Nebbiolo and EB77 was born.
Fruit from Dixons Creek was fermented for 28 days in the newly crafted (!) open top fermenter and aged for 7 months in a combination of small and large old oak.
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2021 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | 100% Nebbiolo |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content
|
11.5% alc vol
|
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 8.63 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Cellaring Potential | 2031 |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin |
Yarra Valley
|
Appellation | Victoria |
2013 Mac Forbes Wesburn Pinot Noir
Regular price £44.00 Save Liquid error (snippets/product-template line 117): Computation results in '-Infinity'%Making the 'Wesi', as Mac calls it, was one of those lightbulb wine moments for this wild-haired Yarra Valley champion.
He says that this is the vineyard that made him see clearly for the first time, that his mission was not to be a great maker of Pinot Noir, but to be a conduit through which a vineyard could tell its story, regardless of the variety planted on it. "Amazingly we see all wines from this site look similar be they red or white." Wesburn just tastes like Wesburn, not just Pinot Noir.
It is always one of his smallest productions each year and, along with the Woori Yallock Pinot Noir, one of the most sort after.
Tasting Notes
Colour
Medium-dark red
Nose
Shy and complex. Lower tones of sulphides, mulch, dark sour cherry and fresh plums.
Palate
Tannins build from the back carrying a ferrous tang. Wine is focused and shy holding out a little right now. Needs air and time. A wine to watch closely over time. Still water runs deep. (Tasting note from August 2014)
The Vineyard
Notes from Mac - "Wesburn was unloved until a few years ago. Planted in 1981, this vineyard, in the far eastern reaches of the Yarra (just before Warburton), sits in the fringe of what many consider marginal viticultural land. It is these sites that truly inspire us and have the potential to make our most exciting wines. The site sits on our beloved siltstone clay soils at the foot of Mount Bride (1000m) which offers cooler nights and mornings. The resultant extension of the ripening period expresses itself by way of far greater tannin depth, high notes and fruit weight. Sometimes walking the fine line reaps rewards."
The Vintage
"The growing season of vintage 2013 started well with budburst for Chardonnay mid-September," said Mac. "This trend continued through spring with vines using stored moisture well into November. By December however, we were looking for moisture. In addition to this, temperatures were considerably up in January having 14 days over 30°C and multiple peaks over 39°C. This was accompanied by just 3.6mm of recorded rainfall (effectively none). The trend continued into February with 17 days over 30°C combined with the bare minimum amount of rain. The high temperatures and lack of water meant we saw early veraison and vines push their fruit to maturity very quickly, this resulted in one of the most compressed vintages of recent times. The Wesburn vineyard was picked by hand on the 24th February 2013."
About Mac Forbes
If you love premium and artisanal Australian wine, Mac Forbes is a name you need to know. He’s not only one of the country’s most talented winemakers, but he’s one of the most influential spokesmen for promoting the concept of Australian ‘terroir’, believing that wine should represent a time and a place.
Mac specialises in single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet from the Yarra Valley. His wines are delicate and finely etched, characterised by subtlety and grace.
His Pinot Noirs are fine-boned, Chardonnays are loved by those who look for fruit purity rather than winemaking artifice in the variety, his array of off-dry Rieslings from the Strathbogie Ranges are some of the country's most unique.
And his ever-expanding range of experimental wines is a treasure-trove for the curious drinker and he is honestly one of the most genuine and affable winemakers you'll ever meet!
Specifications
Year | 2013 |
Bottle Size | 750ml |
Cultivar | Pinot Noir |
Country | Australia |
Alcohol content | 12.2% alc vol |
Units of Alcohol per Bottle | 9.05 units |
Type | Red Wine |
Food Match | Chicken or Turkey |
Maturation | 11 months in new and old oak |
Allergen Information | Contains sulphites |
Origin | Yarra Valley |
Appellation | Victoria |