Overview
A benchmark Australian Bordeaux-style blend from one of the Yarra Valley's most celebrated estates, the 2015 Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 1 combines exceptional pedigree, elegance and long-term cellaring potential. Awarded an outstanding 99 points by James Halliday, this Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wine delivers concentrated dark fruit, savoury complexity, finely structured tannins and the vibrant natural acidity characteristic of the Yarra Valley.
Vineyard
Dry Red No. 1 takes its name from Yarra Yering's original Block No. 1, where Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec were first planted in 1969 by founder Dr Bailey Carrodus. Situated in Gruyere in the Yarra Valley, these mature vines grow in grey silty loam soils. Merlot was subsequently established through interplanting and additional plantings in 1990, while Petit Verdot contributes further complexity to this classic Bordeaux-inspired blend.
Winemaking
The 2015 blend comprises 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 13% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot. Grapes were hand harvested and carefully sorted, with Cabernet Sauvignon crushed to develop structure and the other varieties undergoing whole-berry fermentation to preserve fragrance and fruit character. Small fermenters and careful extraction helped build complexity while maintaining elegance.
The wine matured in French oak barriques, approximately 40% new, for 15 months before blending, allowing the individual components to integrate while retaining their distinctive varietal characteristics.
Producer Tasting Notes
Aroma
Stylish, lifted nose settling into itself after a few years in bottle. Shows signature blackberry, aniseed, sarsaparilla, marzipan and cassis with hints of bergamot and sage.
Palate
A medium-bodied 'classic' Bordeaux style featuring a fleshy, fruit-layered palate integrated with earthy complexity. Juicy acidity, characteristic of this vineyard, underlays soft expansive fruit and fine dusty tannins. In true Yarra Yering tradition, it combines power with poise, concentration with finesse.
Critic Reviews
99 Points — James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion
“This is a superlative, tightly furled Bordeaux blend of pedigree, age-worthiness…”
97 Points — Jeremy Oliver
Tasted January 2016
Recommended Drinking Window: 2035–2045
96+ Points — Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
“It’s heady in blue fruits, plum, licorice, green herbs, undergrowth and eucalyptus.”
95 Points — Tom Cannavan, wine-pages.com
“more lifted fragrance too with garrigue-like notes utterly compelling.”
Tasted January 2021
Awards
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Bronze Medal — Melbourne Royal Show, Blend of Bordeaux Varieties, awarded 2016.
Producer
Established in 1969 by Dr Bailey Carrodus, Yarra Yering is one of Australia's most influential boutique wineries. Located in Gruyere in Victoria's Yarra Valley, the estate is renowned for its distinctive vineyard expression, meticulous winemaking and exceptional age-worthy wines. Its iconic Dry Red No. 1 has become a benchmark for Australian Cabernet Sauvignon-led blends, celebrated for combining Bordeaux-inspired structure with cool-climate Yarra Valley finesse.
Specifications
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Vintage: 2015
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Producer: Yarra Yering
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Country: Australia
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Region: Victoria, Yarra Valley, Gruyere
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Grape Varieties: 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 13% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot
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Classification: Bordeaux-style Red Blend
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Wine Style: Still Red Wine
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Sweetness: Dry
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Body: Medium
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Alcohol: 14%
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Harvest: Hand Harvested
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Fermentation: Small fermenters, including whole-berry fermentation
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Maturation: 15 months in French oak barriques
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New Oak: 40%
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Drinking Window: 2021–2045
