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
Clones 114 and 115 planted ’94, believed to have mutated into a single ‘Sangreal’ clone, 66% whole bunches, 4 days cold soak, wild yeast open-fermented 8 days, matured in new French oak for 18 months. Deeply coloured, depth and savoury complexity the cornerstones of great pinots. Spices from an Arabian bazaar intermingle sinuously with vibrant berry fruits, a skein of refreshing acidity adding another dimension to a wine that continuously draws saliva from the mouth. It is already a complete wine, its future measured in decades, not years. Drink by 2035.
