Tasting Notes
There's a cracking story in this Shiraz Viognier. The Viognier comes off cuttings originally smuggled out of Château-Grillet in Condrieu back in the 1960s, wildly illegal then and even more so now, co-fermented with Shiraz off old-vine material dating back to plantings from 1868. The wine itself is every bit as good as the tale, expressive and concentrated with loads of black and dark red fruit, an alluring violet perfume and a lift of exotic spice. The fruit intensity is remarkable, carried on the silkiest of tannins, a warm dry summer adding real depth and concentration. Loaded with fruit, florals and spice, and thoroughly gorgeous. - Pete L
Serrat is the tiny Yarra Valley vineyard of Tom and Nadège Carson, established near Yarra Glen in 2001.
The vineyard is planted at unusually high densities of up to 8,800 vines per hectare, with each vine carrying only a small crop – roughly enough fruit to produce a single bottle. The north and east-facing slopes sit on low-fertility clay soils with buckshot gravel and decomposed mudstone beneath, and are planted to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Grenache, Nebbiolo and a handful of other varieties. Inspired by the close-planted vineyards of Europe, the focus here is firmly on the vineyard, with Tom believing that low yields per vine give greater balance, concentration and expression of site.
In the winery the approach is similarly restrained, allowing the vineyard, variety and vintage to lead. Production is tiny, but Serrat has established itself as one of the Yarra Valley's benchmark small producers, making beautifully detailed, structured wines with a distinctly cool-climate feel.
| Product Type | Wine Red Shiraz |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Victoria |
| Sub Region | Yarra Valley |
| Winemaking Practices | Conventional |
| Vineyard Practices | Conventional |