Yangarra Ovitelli Blanc 2024

96 POINTS

Marcus Ellis - Halliday Wine Companion

A different blend this year of 31/28/22/19% grenache gris/grenache blanc/clairette/roussanne. Some batches were direct pressed, others saw up to four months on skins, with all fermentation and maturation in ceramic eggs. This hits different to prior releases, recognisable but just a little dialled up. A little whiff of measured reduction gives an appealing slatey, matchstick note floating like smoke over the golden apple, citron, pineapple quince and Meyer lemon fruit. It’s sunny in a way, an orchard bursting with life, but the textural tension, the layers of phenolic detail and the subtly integrated baking spices take away any notion of this being in any way simple. Rather it is calmly, coolly complex. And it gets better with air – significantly enhanced on day two.

95 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2024 Ovitelli Blanc is led by Grenache Gris (31%), Grenache Blanc (28%) and Clairette (22%), with the balance Roussanne. The season here was warm and dry, however widespread rains in January positively set the tone for the season. The wine here is perfumed and floral, with mineral/rock-based phenolics that shape the flavors across the palate. Winemaker Pete Fraser credits the heightened aromas here to the increased quantity of Grenache Gris in the blend. A tremendous wine, it is elegant and sophisticated, and the experience is predicated on skin/fruit tannin. Sealed under screw cap.

93 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

This is 31% Grenache Gris, 28% Grenache Blanc, 22% Clairette, 18% Roussanne. Part of the Grenache Blanc and Roussanne (48%)stays in a ceramic egg for four months, the other parts were pressed to ceramic egg. This is a juicy and slippery wine but its fine stony grip keeps it all in check. No shortage of flavour this vintage, offering pear, apple, some more tropical fruit, dried herbs, a spiced preserved lemon tang, balanced acidity with a waxy feel on a finish of excellent length. Good wine. Rhone blanc fanciers will, well, fancy it.