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.
97 Points James Halliday
The vineyard was planted in ’94 to clones 114 and 115, believed to have mutated into a single ‘Sangreal’ clone. Always made with 50-70% whole bunches, and 60-70% new oak maturation for 18 months. Another very different iteration of pinot, the multifaceted bouquet with both red and black fruits in play, the same perfumed vehicle as Farr Rising, the palate of remarkable elegance and finesse, with exactly the right balance between pure pinot fruit flavours and structure ex the whole bunches. Drink by 2028.
