Yarra Yarra Wines - A Blast from the Past in The Oak Barrel Cellars

Yarra Yarra Wines - A Blast from the Past in The Oak Barrel Cellars

Posted by Paul Downie on 3rd Jul 2021

Here’s a blast from the past.

First planted in 1979 and 1980 to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and 1 hectacre of Shiraz this vineyard in the northern area of the Yarra Valley produced some excellent small parcels of wines until its demise in the Black Saturday Bush Fire of 2009.
Ian McLean the owner and wine maker would have been on the cutting edge of what is now called Natural Wine Making. Only organic sprays and no use of pesticides were used wild yeast fermentation and minimal intervention.


Ian McLean’s winemaking philosophy is “ let the grapes talk and treat them gently and with respect”. Only estate grown grapes are used to make the wines. Many have said Ian Maclean produces sophisticated wines, bringing an Old World reserve and elegance to New World fruit. 
Yields are purposely kept low, between three and five tonnes per hectare to ensure grapes are produced with intense flavours. The grapes are always picked on flavour and tannin ripeness, never by chemical numbers!


Wines from Yarra Yarra are often mistaken as European wines and are pure, natural wines made to be enjoyed with food.


The wines and the winemaker made prominence in the late 1990’s and his Yarra Yarra wine is still rated in the “Excellent” category of Langton’s Classification.


Ian himself reached recognition with many wine scribes and a few of the quotes have been taken from the Yarra Yarra website.

“Although Ian Maclean did little or nothing to gain publicity, word got around that the wines were of exceptional quality”. James Halliday, Classic Wines of Australia and New Zealand


“Ian Maclean is meticulous in his compact hill-top winery and scrupulous about hygiene. The attention to detail is impressive but Maclean is far from a boring old technocrat “ - Max Allen, Divine Magazine.

Production was tiny with around 1500 to 2000 cases produced annually and we were lucky enough to purchase a quantity of his wines in the early 2000’s These wines have been stored in commercial cellaring conditions since.

Yarra Yarra The Yarra Yarra 2001
$100 each
or $99 in any 6

100% Cabernet Sauvignon 55% aged in the finest grain new French oak barriques. It is intense and balanced with brilliant red berry and violet aromas and flavours. Great intensity and length gives the wine remarkable power and richness.

Both vintages of this wine have aged well showing notes of stewed plum, eucalypt, and cigar box.

Yarra Yarra The Yarra Yarra 2002
$110 each
or $99 in any 6

100% Cabernet Sauvignon 55% aged in the finest grain new French oak barriques. It is intense and balanced with brilliant red berry and violet aromas and flavours. Great intensity and length gives the wine remarkable power and richness.

Both vintages of this wine have aged well showing notes of stewed plum, eucalypt, and cigar box.

Yarra Yarra Cabernets 2002
$85.00 each
or $76.50 in any 6

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Aged in new fine grain French Oak, the balance in older barrels. It is highly perfumed, with violets and red fruits; more forward than the Yarra Yarra with a little less intensity.

This wine should not be underestimated, as it is a serious and complex wine.

Yarra Yarra Reserve Merlot 2001
$65.00 each
or $58.50 in any 6

This is a niche wine, with only two barriques made. It has the seductiveness of beautiful Merlot with intense aromas of chocolate and mulberries and flavours. There are powerful fruit flavours on the palate, with excellent purity. Tannins are rich, rounded and supple, providing the fruit with powerful support.

This is an outstanding Merlot with length and complexity.

Yarra Yarra Syrah Viognier 2002
$80.00 each
or $72.00 in any 6

Syrah Viognier with 5% Viognier is spicy and plummy with a balanced, elegant palate. More savoury and spicy in style with notes of earth and balsamic alongside light black fruit notes. Smooth and complex with a peppery finish.

The Yarra Yarra site creates flavours like the Northern Rhone, home of the world's greatest Syrah.

Yarra Yarra The Yarra Yarra 2003
$80 each
or $72 in any 6

Syrah Viognier with 5% Viognier is spicy and plummy with a balanced, elegant palate. More savoury and spicy in style with notes of earth and balsamic alongside light black fruit notes. Smooth and complex with a peppery finish.

The Yarra Yarra site creates flavours like the Northern Rhone, home of the world's greatest Syrah.

Yarra Yarra Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2001

$50.00 each
or $45.00 in any 6

A unique style, not typically Australian or what you would expect of a Sauvignon Blanc Semillon (65%/35%) blend. The SBS was naturally yeast fermented and aged in French oak barriques, of which 30% were new. It has flavours of citrus and pear with wonderful mouth feel and length plus fine natural acidity. 

A rich, textural white to win over the hearts of Chardonnay lovers!

Yarra Yarra Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2002

$50.00 each
or $45.00 in any 6

A unique style, not typically Australian or what you would expect of a Sauvignon Blanc Semillon (65%/35%) blend. The SBS was naturally yeast fermented and aged in French oak barriques, of which 30% were new. It has flavours of citrus and pear with wonderful mouth feel and length plus fine natural acidity.

A rich, textural white to win over the hearts of Chardonnay lovers!