Mount Mary Masterclass! (Yarra Valley, Australia)

Triolet 2015 – Sea spray, lemon curd, citrus rind, palate is outstanding and zippy with lemongrass, fresh lime, a little creaminess, great salinity. So fresh and precise still this could go longer easily.

Triolet 2020 – Less salinity and complexity, this was a challenging vintage. Similar lemon and lime but also a little grassy yet a little brighter than the 2015. Citrus galore on the palate, however feels thinner and less complex.

Triolet 2022 – The standout for the Triolet here, this one is so well integrated. Has complexity beyond the 2015 and also tastes older than the 2015. Zippy yet creamy and well balanced. 2022 is a great vintage.

Chardonnay 2020 – Buttery and rich on the nose, refreshing salinity and yellow fruits. Still great complexity for this challenging year.

Chardonnay 2021 – Like the 2020 but more fresh, more acidity and more fruit forward. A buffed up version of the 2020.

Chardonnay 2022 – Okay so what a vintage for the whites this is, so complex and drinking well beyond its years. This is a standout and so well integrated already, this would be exciting to revisit in 10 years.

Marli Russell 2021 – A new endeavour by Mount Mary focusing on Rhone varieties grown and vinified at the estate. Big red fruit nose, core of strawberry and jam, smells like a farmers market. The palate is light and fresh with strawberry, cranberry, light as a feather, wow! Young Grenache vines so it’s less concentrated fruit and lacks the earthiness you expect from a GSM.

Marli Russell 2022 – This one has darker fruits, jammy plum and boysenberry, very brooding on the nose. Palate similar to the 2021 but more concentrated fruits.

Pinot Noir 2021 – Very excited, my favourite Australian Pinot, feels like its weightless on the nose, dark red fruit core, porcelain on the palate it’s so delicate, floats effortlessly with a trio of strawberry, slight pepper and vanilla pods.

Quintet 2014 – Deep and concentrated, blackcurrant and boysenberry with dried vanilla pods. Dark and ripe red fruits converging on a medium body. 10 years on and could still go a long way!

Quintet 2017 – More liquorice and pronounced red fruits compared to the 2014, I get a little eucalyptus too. This one could almost fool me as Margaret River in a blind tasting.

Quintet 2021 – Lost the eucalyptus note entirely, more earthy with deep red fruits with much more concentration. Excellent balance, great oak and vanilla perfectly integrated.

Quintet 2022 – More vanilla pronounced, thinner body on the palate but fresh and vibrant still with ripe red fruits.