2025 The Wanderer Yellingbo Pinot Noir

The Wanderer winemaker Andrew Marks has been carving out his own path in the Upper Yarra for a long time, and the Yellingbo block is central to that story. This vineyard sits on dense grey clay, a soil profile that naturally gives the MV6 clone a heavier, structural frame compared to the lighter, more perfumed styles from the red volcanic soils nearby.

The 2025 season brought plenty of core depth to the fruit. Andrew completely destemmed the crop but left the berries whole, letting a wild ferment take place before tucked away the juice into large, seasoned French oak barrels for nearly a year. Bottled unfiltered without any fining, it is an authentic look at this unique pocket of the valley.

This release has a real chew to it. It has a dark, brambly fruit profile packed with forest floor characters. The tannins are immaculate and dense, giving the wine a solid foundation that begs for a couple of years in the cellar to fully unwind. It is a smart, savoury red that values substance over simple prettiness.