The winemakers & their special Yarra Valley pinots.

For this special occasion, we are pleased to provide for your enjoyment five of the Yarra Valley's premium pinot noir offerings from small, privately owned wineries.

2008 Bulong Estate Pinot 2008 Helen's Hill Pinot 2006 Boat O'Craigo "Rob Roy" Pinot 2006 Yering Farm Pinot 2008 Whispering Hills Pinot

2008 Bulong Estate Pinot.

The wine: Grown on the cool slopes outside Yarra Junction, this is a multi-clonal Pinot Noir with excellent varietal definition and complexity.

The winemaker: Bulong Estate is a family owned and run vineyard and winery situated in the Yarra Junction sub-region of the Yarra Valley. The elevation, cool climate and soil structures from this area are recognised as being exceptional for the growing of high quality Pinot Noir.

The 2008 wine was made from three different Pinot Noir clones, each grown on a separate part of the vineyard. Each clone brings something different to the wine that will be expanded upon on the night. The fruit is fermented in traditional open fermenters and hand plunged many times a day. Secondary fermentation and maturation was undertaken in 100% French oak, of which approximately 30% was new. It was fined, lightly filtered and bottled on site after 11 months in barrel.

The 2008 growing season was warm-hot and the resultant fruit was rich and ripe on the palate with characters of cherries, violets and blackcurrants, while the nose has classic varietal definition. Our site produces wines with high levels of natural acidity, which contributes to the wine’s long finish. Oak plays a supporting role and contributes fine tannins and structure. The wine is drinking beautifully now, however as the 2006 vintage wine has shown it will repay short- medium term cellaring.

2006 Boat O'Craigo "Rob Roy" Pinot.

The wine: Elegant with aromas of earth and spice mingle with rich plum and cherry fruit and a distinct Burgundian gamy character.

2004 Yering Farm Pinot.

The wine: A spicy, rich, estate grown Pinot Noir from Yering Farm Wines. Fine rich tannins, silky, intense berry fruit, balanced with subtle oak infusion. A limited production of this vintage to enjoy with duck cuisine.

Selected parcels of fruit were hand picked and harvested over ten days to capture a broader spectrum of flavour. The fruit was gently crushed in open tanks, cold maceration, followed by frequent hand plunging of the cap, extracting a rich colour during fermentation. The wine matured in French oak puncheons, particularly sourced and imported by the winemaker.

The winemaker: Yering Farm is located on the original site of the Yeringa Vineyard, owned by the Deschamps family in the 1800s. The original Yeringa signage was recovered and now adorns the entrance to the Yering Farm Cellar Door. Resurrected by the Johns family in 1980, the first replanting of grapevines began in 1989.

All Yering Farm grapes are hand picked to ensure only the best parcels of fruit are selected for our individually handcrafted wines. Whilst hand picking is more labor intensive (and costly), we at Yering Farm feel it is worthwhile in achieving the high standards desired.

2008 Helen's Hill Pinot.

The wine: A hotter than average January and February produced a pinot of vibrant cherry red with a bouquet of violets and cherries. Excellent drinking now.

The fruit was delivered into the winery earlier than ever before. This special pinot features dark berry and spice flavours with sweet middle palate and a long elegant finish. We recommend cellaring for up to 10 years.

2008 Whispering Hills Pinot.

The wine: The Whispering Hills 2008 Pinot Noir is brick red in color. It has an intense array of aromas of allspice, dried herbs and strawberries. The nose is complemented by a palate of Tamarillos and strawberry lying on a soft palate, supple but firm. Cellar into the next decade.

The winemaker: Established in 1985, Whispering Hills is nestled in a natural amphitheatre above the township of Seville. Yarra Valley wines made include Sparkling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and we also create a Bendigo Shiraz.