97 POINTS
Tom Kline - Winepilot
100% Roussanne taken from Yangarra’s oldest Roussanne planting. 46% of the final blend was fermented on skins and remained on skins for around 7 months before pressing with only the free run juice retained. The other portion was whole bunch basket pressed into ceramic and fermented without skins. The final blend was exclusively matured in ceramic for a further 4 months. This is what I refer to as a ‘journey wine’. It takes you on a ride as it unfolds and shapeshifts in the glass with each version an improvement on the last. It’s an embarrassment of riches when it comes to complexity. This opens with sweet pops of honeysuckle and orange blossom before a savoury cut through of green almond and pistachio. Time in the glass reveals white peach, subtle dried apricot and orange peel tea along with a saline twang of pickled vegetables, some herbaceous sage leaf and a suggestion of white pepper. There’s an underlay of leesy complexity adding to the smorgasbord of character, too. A classy display. The palate is at once powerful and restrained with a lovely bite of preserved lemon teaming up with green almond to bring bitter appeal alongside Meyer lemon, pear and orange oil. The phenolics are febrile and pithy, holding sway and constricting the palate as it all carries to very long and detailed length. A phenomenal release.
97 POINTS
Marcus Ellis - Halliday Wine Companion
Predominantly from the oldest roussanne planting, a 1ha block, with a small parcel (15%) from younger vines for fragrance. The compression of power is becoming a key feature of what is one of Australia’s finest white wines. It’s refreshing to see the varietal hegemony of the usual suspects being consistently challenged. This, from a celebrated cool year, is at the start of a long and promising journey, somewhat shy, but layered with interest. Green almond, pear, pickled peach, pineapple quince, lemon balm, mint, young sage, oyster shell and a rocky, pumice-like mineral note, which is echoed by the ultrafine pithiness of the palate. It’s another superb release, but it’s one that needs a little time to settle into its long stride.
Wonderfully complex and enticing notes of Meyer lemons, honeysuckle, orange blossoms and talcum powder. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with a phenolic grip from seven months on the skins, giving notes of chamomile tea, sea salt and quince. A very complex and finely integrated wine with a fresh backbone. Excellent.
95 POINTS
Ray Jordan - Winepilot
The colour is bright and golden with pale hues. Bursts from the glass with a light honey and stone fruit character plus a lemony edge. This is 100% Roussanne, a portion of which was crushed to ceramic eggs and about half the final blend left on skins for 7 months before pressing. The final blend was matured in ceramic eggs for 4 months. The process has built texture and richness with the slightly phenolic character adding to the palate feel. Creamy and opulent while fine acidity defines the finish.
95 POINTS
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2023 Roux Beaute Roussanne comprises 100% Roussanne, half of which is destemmed, pressed and sent to Clayver ceramic egg for fermentation, the other portion is kept on skins for up to seven months prior to pressing and blending in ceramic for a further four months prior to bottling. The final wine is kept in bottle for 12 months prior to release. So here, the wine leads with pressed flowers and lanolin, warm wax and brine. It offers wafts of pineapple husk and white pepper, anise and linen. In the mouth, it has a distinct dry spice note, like saffron/turmeric, alongside all the white characters. It's an endlessly intriguing wine, one that is both shaped and driven by phenolics. I like it a lot and would like to see the wine when it is older... I feel it will carry the years well. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.
95 POINTS
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front
100% Roussanne.
Cracking wine. So much flavour, so much character, so much length. Shell grit, stonefruit, pear, lemon, sage, vanilla pod and mineral, all set with a textural framework that is slippery and svelte but not creamy and/or overdone. This is a white wine of both energy and presence. It’s a banger.
92 POINTS
Angus Hughson - Vinous
The 2023 Roussanne Roux Beaute is a wine of the vintage. This lacks the variety's characteristic weight and density. The 2023 has a lighter expression with melon and citrus aromas lifted by subtle chamomile nuances. This is acid-driven with a linear texture. Its best years will be down the track after building some bottle age complexity.
