Yabby Lake Vineyard

Yabby Lake Block 2 Pinot 2013 Takes Out Champion Wine at National Wine Show

21 Nov 2014

Last night at the National Wine Show Trophy Presentation Dinner in Canberra, the new release Yabby Lake Block 2 Pinot Noir 2013 took home four trophies, collecting the RSN Riedel Trophy for Best Pinot Noir, the Treasury Wine Estates Single Vineyard Dry Red Trophy, the Minter Ellison Trophy for Best Dry Red Table Wine and the Len Evans Memorial Trophy for Champion Wine of the Show.

Founded by the Kirby family, the Yabby Lake business is now headed up by Chief Winemaker and General Manager Tom Carson with a dedicated team of the industry's most experienced wine professionals working to deliver the Kirby family vision. The first chapter of this exciting Australian wine story started in 1992 when the Kirby family planted its first vineyard at Red Hill on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. Intimately involved in the Mornington Peninsula region for decades, it was only natural that founders Robert and Mem Kirby would plant their first vines in the area.

In 1998, after much searching and careful planning, the Yabby Lake Vineyard was established in the sub-region of Moorooduc. One year later, a rare and special parcel of land on the ancient Cambrian soils of Heathcote was planted with the sole objective to grow and craft one wine - a single vineyard shiraz. Around the same time, the family also purchased the original Mount Helen Vineyard in the Strathbogie Ranges. The Kirby family began working with viticulturist Keith Harris and soon engaged Larry McKenna to oversee the early vintages. Renowned Mornington Peninsula winemaker Tod Dexter was employed in 2004, applying his specialist knowledge of the region. In 2008, after a decade of careful planning of the family's wine interests, Robert and Mem handed control of the family's vineyards and established labels to their children Nina and Clark.

Of all Australian wine regions, the Mornington Peninsula lays claim to be the most important of maritime climates. It is surrounded on three sides by the sea. The Mornington Peninsula has become one of the most exciting and interesting regions in all of Australia – with the small differences in aspect, elevation, soils and microclimates each contributing to the varied and fascinating character of the wines.

The Yabby Lake Vineyard is in the sub-region of Moorooduc. Positioned on a north-facing slope, the site captures maximum daily sunshine, but importantly is refreshed by nightly cool sea breezes – perfect conditions for growing high quality chardonnay and pinot noir. The Peninsula's summer heat reaches its (low) peak in January and only starts to decline somewhat during April, often providing 'Indian summer' conditions. The coincidence of late ripening and a prolonged gentle autumn results in fully ripe grapes with outstanding fruit flavours, high natural acidity and fine tannins.

We understand we are merely custodians of our land and to make the wines deserved of this site we must have rich, healthy soils. This philosophy has led us to minimal chemical input in the vineyard and a move towards organic viticultural techniques.

The Yabby Lake winemaking philosophy allows the inherent potential of each parcel of fruit to be realised. It is the careful and considered work in the vineyard from pruning to picking that determines the true foundation and character of each wine.

Then, in the winery, each parcel is handled gently and thoughtfully to ensure winemaking techniques only enhance the potential quality of the resulting wine. The Yabby Lake team has an uncompromising commitment to producing the highest quality wines. Each year, less than 30% of the fruit from the Yabby Lake Vineyard is classified for our single vineyard wines. We've been making single vineyard chardonnay and pinot noir from this site since 2002, and both wines have rapidly gained a reputation for excellence.

Vintage 2009

Average winter rains lead to good bud break and good early season growth. The drought returned in spring with below average rainfall in September, October and November, but with access to recycled water for irrigation the dry period was not a worry and good healthy growth continued through December and early January. Flowering occurred in the first two weeks of November which were warm and dry so fruit set was very good requiring shoot and fruit thinning to most blocks.

An overwhelming heat wave struck between 28-30 January and extreme temperatures returned on 7 February with maximum temperatures of around 42ºC. Fortunately, with plenty of irrigation water available we immediately implemented a full program of irrigation. The effect of the heat on the fruit was significant with many bunches completely burnt on the west side of the rows and berries desiccated on the east side. The net effect determined after harvest was a 30% loss on forecasts. The effects on flavour were at this stage unknown.

Vintage started on 19 February with rigorous hand selection in the vineyard to ensure that only the best, sound fruit was delivered to the winery. Harvest was completed on 8 April 2009. A combination of a cooler than average growing season and adequate water supply meant that the fruit was not affected as feared. Early reports from the winery show some blocks delivering wine of surprising quality.