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.
96 Points James Suckling
Lifted cooler climatic notes of charcuterie, lilac, clove and dried kelp. An excellent nose, with hints of briar and dill suggesting a good portion of whole bunches in the mix. A skein of peppery, juicy acidity drags this to exceptional length, sublimating the edginess of the whole-bunch quotient into an impressive, greater whole. This is fine shiraz, auguring for development over eight years in bottle.Lifted cooler climatic notes of charcuterie, lilac, clove and dried kelp. An excellent nose, with hints of briar and dill suggesting a good portion of whole bunches in the mix.
96 Points Campbell Mattinson
Nick Farr knows how to make wine. That’s my t-shirt slogan for today, and if any retailer prints it I’ll buy one.
This is a glorious cool-climate shiraz. It’s sweet, it’s savoury, it’s truffly, it’s massed with roasted nut characters and it’s many other things besides. There is so much gorgeousness here. It’s built on cherries, plums, toffees, twigs, spices and leaves, but that’s just the starters. It’s tight too, and as it expands and unfolds it keeps its tannin and acid rigidly in place; it’s always a marvel to see a backline, in football of all codes, hold its formation as the chaos of attack is unleashed, and that’s what this wine is like. It holds its shape as the dream is laid out. It’s super. Drink 2024 – 2034+