Yering Station Reserve Shiraz Viognier 2003

This esteemed Victorian label roots itself in 1969 when Dr Bailey Carrodus, a botanist, planted his first twelve hectares of vines at the foot of the Warramate Hills. With a degree in winemaking and a doctorate in plant physiology from Oxford, Carrodus had long searched for his ideal site, and he named his vineyard Yarra Yering. The unirrigated vineyards produce low yields, but the wines all have an extraordinary depth and intensity. The fruit of his labour was realised in 1973 when he produced his first vintage, the timeless Dry Red Wine No's 1 & 2.

Dr Carrodus' original site has grown over the years, totalling 70 acres including the original plantings of Cabernet, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Chardonnay, in addition to new plots of Portuguese and Italian varieties. Though Dr Carrodus passed away in 2008, newly appointed winemaker Sarah Crowe is set to the task of continuing his legacy. An impressive resume, Crowe started in the wine industry at Brokenwood in the Hunter Valley and continued to work vintages at Adelsheim Vineyard and Ponzi Family Vineyards, in Oregon and the Rhone Valley's Paul Jaboulet Aine.