2024 Mount Mary Marli Russell RP2

Old guard icons are not always known for tinkering with a winning formula. But the considered experimentation in the Marli Russell reds brings these Rhone-inspired beauties well beyond mere project wines.

Named after Sam Middleton’s grandmother, this range is the result of a long-term experiment with Rhône varieties on the estate. The RP2 is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Shiraz that trades heavy-handed ripeness for the finesse that Mount Mary is known for.

The 2024 season was a game of two halves; a cooler start provided a taut, mineral edge, while a dry February ripened the Grenache and Shiraz beautifully. It’s light-to-medium bodied and very refreshing. You get bright pomegranate and wild strawberry notes that transition into a more brooding mid-palate, all held together by seamless, silky tannins.

It’s a sophisticated, Southern Rhône-inspired blend from one of the Yarra's most famous addresses.