Yarra Yering Dry Red No.1 2023

2026 Halliday Cabernet Blend of the Year - 99 POINTS

“A blend of 58/23/15/4% cabernet sauvignon/merlot/malbec/petit verdot, the cabernet coming from the original '69-planted vineyard. Matured in barrique (35% new). A deep, bright purple. Classic cool-climate cabernet aromas of black cherry, blackcurrants, cedar, licorice and subtle iodine. The palate is simultaneously concentrated, structured and refined, finishing with an ironstone minerality. Approachable now with food, but anyone who buys some will want to make sure they still have a bottle, or three, 10 to 15 years from now.”
- 99 Points | Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion

Dry Red No. 1 is where it all began for Yarra Yering, and in 2023, 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.