98 Points - Philip Rich
Serrat is the family winery of Yabby Lake winemaker Tom Carson and partner Nadege Suné. Serrat has 8,800 vines per hectare - more than four times the average density, however their vines carry only a few bunches each. Remarkably, it takes one vine to produce each bottle of Serrat wine; these are genuine, hand-crafted wines of the highest quality.
Serrat Shiraz Viognier has gained a huge following in recent years on the back of some extraordinary high praise. The 2022 Serrat Shiraz Viognier is another breathtakingly beautiful Yarra Valley red wine; showing remarkable intensity of flavour, balance and approachability that makes it difficult to put down.
"98 Points. A saturated purple. Saturated and intense on the nose, too. Concentrated yet balanced, you'll find aromas of blue and dark fruits, violets, incense and sweet spices such as clove and cinnamon. A gorgeous mouthful, this is powerful and structured but without any sense of heaviness. Australian shiraz viognier (or shiraz, for that matter) doesn't get much better than this. It's pretty much a steal at this price, too. Screw cap. 13.5% alc. Drink: 2022 - 2035"- Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion 2024.
"This wine is from the Shiraz block planted in 2003 with Viognier from the original 2001 plantings. There are two clones in the block, Best’s Old Block sourced from the original plantings at Best’s Great Western planted in 1868 and clone 1654, a Barossa selection. The Viognier is from cuttings at Yarra Yering, that l cut personally in 2000, Dr Carodus told me he had personally taken them from Chateau Grillet in Condrieu in the 60’s. Highly illegal at the time and even more so now. This is another opulent Shiraz, following on from 21, it has loads of black and darker red fruits and a trademark hint of black pepper. The fruit intensity is remarkable coupled with the signature fragrant violet note. It’s just loaded with fruit and florals and complex Asian spices. The palate is saturated and layered with a superb array of silken mouthcoating tannins. Black, blue and red fruits, spice, perfume and fragrant. The 2022 has a richness, fleshiness and is deeply concentrated."- Serrat Wines.