Gary Farr is one of the most iconic winemakers in the country. He was responsible for taking Bannockburn Vineyards in Geelong to the startling heights it reached; one of the benchmark producers of Burgundian varieties in the country. His own label, By Farr, is considered to be Australia’s leading producer of those same varieties. The Farr vineyards are based in the Moorabool Valley in Geelong, with a wide array of ancient soils resulting in small yields of incredibly intensely flavoured Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Shiraz and Viognier. With Gary’s son Nick now pulling the winemaking reigns alongside his father, this is a project set to dominate Geelong wine for years to come.
95 Points Halliday Wine Companion
A meld of Dijon clones and the domestic stalwart, MV6, this abuts the lauded Sangreal Vineyard, albeit, the vines are younger, of a cooler disposition and hailing from darker soils over a limestone substrata. Hand-harvested and fermented under the aegis of wild yeast with a good whack of whole-bunch fibre, this exotic and sturdy pinot was ten raised in Allier wood for 18 months or so, with a single racking. Darker fruit allusions in a pinot context, corralled by an expensive kirsch richness across the mid-drift, hints of orange zest acidity, ginger and ample clove, cinnamon and turmeric-clad tannins, slinky, a bit edgy and expansive. Drink by 2025. Ned Goodwin MW