Yabby Lake Vineyard, Single Block Release, Block 2, Mornington Peninsula, Australia 2013

Outstanding: rated in top Pinot Noirs outside Burgundy in April 2016 issue.

Yabby Lake Vineyard, Single Block Release, Block 2013 has lots of spicy oak and smoky reduction on the nose; medium bodied, delicate, stylish; light, integrated tannins; concentrated and fresh with a lovely intensity on the finish. Well handled and very pleasant to drink.

Alc 13.5%

Price UK £47-£70 Hedonism, Hand Picked Burgundy

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Founded in 1998 by landowners Robert and Mem Kirby, the principal varieties they planted were Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. The property always had a good reputation, but it was further enhanced when in 2008 Tom Carson, previously at Yering Station winery in the Yarra Valley, came on board as chief winemaker. When he arrived at Yabby Lake he began to produce single block bottlings of both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which proved mostly of thrilling quality. The idea behind the programme is to focus on the specificity of individual blocks in terms of their terroir and clonal selections. No particular wizardry is employed at the winery: oak use is cautious, with ageing in French, 500-litre barrels, about 25% new.