Little Yering Shiraz

Yering Station's annual blind allocation tasting is the structural engine behind every bottle in the portfolio: all parcels are randomised and assessed without identity before tier assignment, meaning Little Yering earns its designation on merit each vintage rather than by formula. Sourced from Yering's five sites across Yarra Glen and Coldstream — volcanic loam slopes and well-drained gravels — the cool maritime climate at elevations up to 1,250 m across the GI slows ripening dramatically, preserving natural acidity and building phenolic structure before sugar accumulation catches up. Wild yeast fermentation drives the primary conversion, with hand-plunging during maceration for gentle tannin extraction rather than aggressive colour stripping. French oak aging at restrained new-oak percentages (consistent with the estate's 14–29% new-oak philosophy across tiers) keeps the fruit profile transparent rather than overlaid. Sealed under screwcap — a policy in place for over two decades — the wine retains the Yarra Valley's hallmark cool-climate lift through to the glass. What distinguishes Little Yering within its entry-level peer group is precisely that blind-allocation discipline: a parcel good enough for Reserve in a generous vintage may appear here in a leaner year, making the tier a moving target rather than a fixed address. The 2024 season's mid-March rains and extended cool finish allowed Shiraz tannin development well beyond typical early-ripening years — drink from release through 3–5 years.