2022 Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 1

Dry Red No. 1 is where it all began for Yarra Yering, and in 2022, it’s once again a masterclass in what makes the Yarra Valley one of Australia’s great Cabernet regions.

This is a wine built on the strength of its foundation - Cabernet Sauvignon from the very first plantings in 1969 - blended with Merlot, Malbec and a splash of Petit Verdot from neighbouring blocks. Every parcel is treated with reverence: whole berry ferments for fragrance, open-top fermenters for texture, a mix of new and seasoned oak, and one third of the Cabernet gets the royal treatment with eight weeks on skins in a 3,500L oak cask.

This is a glorious wine. A wine of depth and quiet power. Dark fruit, fine tannins, just enough grip, and a savoury undercurrent that builds with every sip. It’s polished, but not flashy - in every sense a benchmark of the famous Yarra Valley Cabernet wine style.

It's a wine destined for great things. Winemaker Sarah Crowe knocked this out of the park. It should be an essential part of any serious Australian cellar.

97 points
"Uber classical cabernet aromas with its core of concentrated and pure blackcurrant and cedar. Throw in hints of bay leaf, some gravel and a little sea spray and you have a pretty special Dry Red Wine No. 1. It's richly fruited and elegant with perfectly integrated, supple and persistent tannins. An altogether sumptuous and majestic wine."
- Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)

96 points
"Sweet ripe berry aromas a touch of smoky reduction, a hint of briar, the palate has good intensity and focus, with a little astringency and bright acidity enlivening the middle and finish. Firm tannins add good structure to the wine. There is elegance and detail. Delicious wine that will reward cellaring."
- Huon Hooke (The Real Review)

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