2022 Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 1

97 POINTS

Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion

A blend of 60/24/11/5% cabernet sauvignon/merlot/malbec/petit verdot, the cabernet coming from the original 1969-planted vineyard. Matured in barrique (35% new). A deep crimson purple; almost opaque. 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.

97 POINTS

James Halliday - Halliday Wine Companion

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.

96 POINTS

Tyson Stelzer

There is a grand juxtaposition set here between the concentrated focus of low yields, the tension of a cool harvest and the structure of a dry season. The result layers herbal complexity of bay and thyme over a core of tightly-coiled blackcurrant and blackberry fruit accented with tobacco leaf and cedar. The energy of cool acidity meshes with the intricate and taut structure of fruit and high class French oak tannins to lay out a long and magnificent finish. Patience.

96 POINTS

Huon Hooke - The Real Review

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.

96 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2022 Dry Red No 1 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (80%), Merlot (11%), Malbec (6%) and Petit Verdot (3%). The Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec components are from the original estate vineyard planted in 1969. Aromatically, the wine leads with sumac spices and paprika, cassis, mulberry and pink peppercorns, dried bay leaf, tobacco and even a hint of tapenade. The palate is a complex place, structured by firm tannins, fresh and cool in feel and with a mineral-inflected, graphite-like, dried mint finish. Neat as a pin. The wine was matured in French oak barrique (35% new) for 15 months. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

96 POINTS

2025 - Decanter World Wine Awards

Confident cedar and vanilla aromas with an emergence of fresh blueberry, cassis and violet bursting at the seams. Beautifully structured with pliant tannins and an everlasting length. Award: Gold - DWWA 2025

95 POINTS

James Suckling

Aromas of blood plums, blackberries, potpourri and spices. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with firmly integrated tannins and bright acidity, giving notes of dark cherries, wild raspberries, dried herbs and cured meat. Fruit-driven with an underlying savory note. Made from a blend of 80% cabernet sauvignon, 11% merlot, 6% malbec and 3% petit verdot.

95 POINTS

Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

This year’s edition of Yarra Yering Dry red No. 1 is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 6% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot. It spent eight weeks on skins and was matured in 35% new oak. The herb notes are so clear here that there’s a trail of bitterness to the aftertaste, though given that a) it’s cabernet and b) pure fruit flavour flushes all the way through, it’s neither a problem nor a negative. You’d almost say though that the firm, stringy nature of the finish sets the style of the wine as a whole; it places a clear emphasis on complexity and structure, even as it delivers the goods fruit-wise. This is an excellent release, though it will only reveal its true pleasure to the patient. It’s fresh, firm, and only just now starting to properly form.