I guess 2016's vintage is winding down. The winery still smells wonderfully of ferments. I'm not sure quite how to describe it; the beginning of life. It must be the first year I haven't made any whites; but the 2015 Marsanne is still developing and I sneak a look once a while. It'll be ready for bottle in a few months. It starts with the fruit, and most of it is down to luck and prayer. Or at least for me. The vineyard is everything. Vintage... look, they're all different, b

There’s something magical about all of this. I don’t think we’ve seen a bad vintage in the Yarra Valley since ’11, and ’09 before it. Aside from the quality of the wine, for me it’s escapism. Every year when vintage rolls around, it’s time ditch the business shoes and get some dirt under my nails. There’s a refreshing nature to it; working directly with, well, nature. In 2016 I fully expected problems going in. This year I’m making only Pinot Noir, and it’s an extremely fickl