About
In creating Mac Forbes Wines back in 2004, there was a clear purpose to better understand and connect with where I am from. The more I have discovered over the years, the more I realise there still is to learn. Today, we are driven by curiosity and a passion for the nuances of this unique place. In each bottle of wine we offer a small snapshot of our evolving understanding of the Yarra Valley, and hope that through sharing these wines you will find joy and excitement in the stories they tell.
Villages
2021 Yarra Junction ‘Village’ Chardonnay
East facing within a smaller valley that runs from Yarra Junction to Poweltown in the south, featuring grey loam soils with underlying silt. Cooler winds roll off the Yarra River, with mountains directly to the north and south-west providing protection from hot afternoon sun in summer. Typically later ripening, thicker skins and higher acids are reflected in elegant structure with clean lines and powerful drive.
Tasting Notes
Nice aromatics of toast, ginger, yellow apple. High acid, light/medium body with some grip. Yellow apple, underripe yellow peach, preserved lemon, ginger, spice, toast. A little broader on the mid palate and a quite savory finish.
We recommend decanting this wine prior to serving between 10-15Cº.
Vintage
A stunning vintage with near perfect conditions during flowering and fruit set. Good rainfall over winter built strong reserves of soil moisture, and the long cool growing season allowed for slow and evening ripening across key varieties. The 2021 vintage was one of the very rare years where we saw both quality and quantity of fruit.
Wine Analysis
Alc/Vol: 11%
Acidity: 7.9g/L
pH: 3.14
Winemaking
Soils: Grey loam soils with underlying silt.
Fruit: Destem & crush before pressing
Yeast: Wild
Maturation: 10 months in small old oak
Fining: None
Filtration: Sterile
Bottled: 3rd February 2022
Release Date: August 2022
2021 Hoddles Creek ‘Village’ Chardonnay
An undulating pocket of the Yarra, characterised by rolling hills and deep red volcanic soils, Hoddles Creek is one of the more unique sub-regions we work in. Reasonably high elevation compared to other parts of the region, Hoddles Creek is typically cold, with a long ripening period that is drawn out even further thanks to protection from UV offered by huge trees that feature heavily in this sub-region.
Tasting Notes
Restrained nose with lemon pith aroma, pale of colour. High acid, light body, very fine phenolics. Red apple skin, white peach, lemon zest, crushed stone, radish.
We recommend decanting this wine prior to serving between 10-15Cº.
Vintage
A stunning vintage with near perfect conditions during flowering and fruit set. Good rainfall over winter built strong reserves of soil moisture, and the long cool growing season allowed for slow and evening ripening across key varieties. The 2021 vintage was one of the very rare years where we saw both quality and quantity of fruit.
Wine Analysis
Alc/Vol: 11%
Acidity: 7.9 g/L
pH: 3.08
Winemaking
Fruit: Destem & crush before pressing
Yeast: Wild
Maturation: 10 months in small old oak
Fining: None
Filtration: Sterile
Bottled: 3rd February 2022
Release Date: August 2022
2021 Woori Yallock 'Village' Chardonnay
Sitting behind the Waramate hills, this area encompasses both red volcanic and grey loam soils making it slightly more complicated to pinpoint a clear identity of this subregion. The undulating hills provide protection from the drier winds, the rainfall is slightly higher and the perfume, weight and structure appears more dense and effortless, pulling through seamlessly to the back palate.
Tasting Notes
Charming aromas of toast, yellow apple, cheese rind, curry leaf, oyster shell and lime. The palate is light/medium with high but fine acid and low alcohol. Elegant palate with lime zest and green herbal spearminty flavours. Great length, minerality and complexity.
We recommend decanting this wine prior to serving between 10-15Cº.
Vintage
A stunning vintage with near perfect conditions during flowering and fruit set. Good rainfall over winter built strong reserves of soil moisture, and the long cool growing season allowed for slow and evening ripening across key varieties. The 2021 vintage was one of the very rare years where we saw both quality and quantity of fruit.
Wine Analysis
Alc/Vol: 11%
Acidity: 8.2 g/L
pH: 3.14
Winemaking
Soils: Red volcanic & grey loam
Fruit: Destem & crush before pressing
Yeast: Wild
Maturation: 11 months in small old oak
Fining: None
Filtration: Sterile
Bottled: 3rd February 2022
Release Date: August 2022
2021 Yarra Junction 'Village' Pinot Noir
East facing within a smaller valley that runs from Yarra Junction to Poweltown in the south, featuring grey loam soils with underlying silt. Cooler winds roll off the Yarra River, with mountains directly to the north and south-west providing protection from hot afternoon sun in summer. Typically later ripening, thicker skins and higher acids are reflected in elegant structure with clean lines and powerful drive.
Tasting Notes
Pale ruby. Slight tomato vine, tart dried cherry. Palate is light/medium, high acid. Red apple skin, dried cherry skin, cool, pure, mountain fruit.
We recommend decanting this wine prior to serving between 10-15Cº.
Vintage
A stunning vintage with near perfect conditions during flowering and fruit set. Good rainfall over winter built strong reserves of soil moisture, and the long cool growing season allowed for slow and evening ripening across key varieties. The 2021 vintage was one of the very rare years where we saw both quality and quantity of fruit.
Wine Analysis
Alc/Vol: 11%
Acidity: 5.9 g/L
pH: 3.4
Winemaking
Soils: Grey loam soils with underlying silt
Fruit: 45% whole bunch, 18 days on skins
Yeast: Wild
Maturation: 10 months in small & large oak
Fining: None
Filtration: None
Bottled: 4th February 2022
Release Date: August 2022
2021 Coldstream ‘Village’ Pinot Noir
At the entrance to the Valley floor, this subregion is low elevation with grey/loam clay based soils. Ripping winds from the north slow transpiration in summer but the cooler overnight temperatures aid the plants ability to regulate aer hot days. Ironstone/mudstone is a consistently big influence, building full mid-palate structure with so, melting tannins.
Tasting Notes
The valley floor representative in the Village Pinot line up. Coldstream each year shows us more richness, mid palate curves and fine ‘melting chocolate’ like tannin that we associate with the deep yellow clay soils of the sub region. Red plum, dark cherry, dried rose, ginger snaps, and moreish fine tannins. In a great drinking window early in its life.
We recommend decanting this wine prior to serving between 15-18Co.
Vintage
A stunning vintage with near perfect conditions during flowering and fruit set. Good rainfall over winter built strong reserves of soil moisture, and the long cool growing season allowed for slow and evening ripening across key varieties. The 2021 vintage was one of the very rare years where we saw both quality and quantity of fruit.
Wine Analysis
Alc/Vol: 12%
Acidity: 5.4g/L
pH: 3.6
Winemaking
Soils: Grey loam overlying clay
Fruit: 40% whole bunch, 16 days on skins
Yeast: Wild
Maturation: 9 months in small old oak
Fining: None
Filtration: None
Bottled: 4th February 2022
2021 Woori Yallock ‘Village’ Pinot Noir
Sitting behind the Waramate hills, this area encompasses both red volcanic and grey loam soils making it slightly more complicated to pinpoint a clear identity of this subregion. The undulating hills provide protection from the drier winds, the rainfall is slightly higher and the perfume, weight and structure appears more dense and effortless, pulling through seamlessly to the back palate.
Tasting Notes
Very pale ruby, quite aromatic, bright red florals and cherry. Light but energetic, coarser tannin from whole bunch. Orange blossom, chinotto, orange skin. Elegance.
We recommend decanting this wine prior to serving between 10-15Cº.
Vintage
A stunning vintage with near perfect conditions during flowering and fruit set. Good rainfall over winter built strong reserves of soil moisture, and the long cool growing season allowed for slow and evening ripening across key varieties. The 2021 vintage was one of the very rare years where we saw both quality and quantity of fruit.
Wine Analysis
Alc/Vol: 11%
Acidity: 5.5g/L
pH: 3.58
Winemaking
Soils: Red volcanic & grey loam
Fruit: 30% whole bunch, fermented in open tops & oak vat, average 14 days on skins
Yeast: Wild
Maturation: 10 months in small old oak
Fining: None
Filtration: None
Bottled: 4th February 2022
Release Date: August 2022
Single Vineyard
2020 'Little Yarra' Gladysdale Pinot Noir
Sitting at the southern end of the Yarra, our Little Yarra vineyard in Gladysdale has become our earliest site to be harvested. It receives warm air travelling down the valley, with increased air moisture content due to the surrounding forests and higher solar radiation. Grey/brown clay soils dominate, with full, rich aromatics and a supple structure that sits prominently on the front palate.
Tasting Notes
Hello. Subtle but clearly present whole bunch and reduction in a super appealing way. Compressed red fruits in a complex matrix. Contained in comparison to the Chardonnay. Ferrous. A supple front palate of lacy fine fruits merges into a compelling back palate of chalk, length, and a firm hold.
We recommend decanting this wine prior to serving between 12-16Co.
Vintage
We cannot wait to share these wines. They are outstanding, and we are very excited. They are different. They are gorgeous to open and take time to get to know. Odd can be wonderful. And they will age incredibly well. The surprises will come for years... It's like the turning of pages of the years; the story keeps coming. So please give these wines a chance. They deserve it, and you'll get happily rewarded.
Wine Analysis
Alc/Vol: 10.5%
Acidity: 6.6g/L
pH: 3.35
Vineyard
Rootstock: 101-14
Clone: MV6
Planted: 2009
Soils: Grey-brown clay loam
Density: 2.5m x 1.5m
Aspect: North
Elevation: 202m
Winemaking
Yeast: Wild
Fermentation: 14 days in open fermenter, 15% whole bunch
Maturation: 10 months in small oak
Fining: None
Filtration: None
Bottles: 847
Release Date: 21st May 2022
Winefront Review by Gary Walsh
Posted on 23 June 2022
"Tiny yields in 2020, so not a lot of wine to go around.
Spicy, a little rubber and wetsuit, strawberry, tight and zesty, orange peel and white pepper. Very bright, spicy red fruit, and bright acidity, very sappy, very tight, maybe don’t expect Pinot Noir, more Meunier perhaps. but such zest and energy. Bright alpine style, almost, but really good."
94 Points
2020 'Ferguson' Woori Yallock Chardonnay
At 1.36ha, the Ferguson vineyard in Woori Yallock has been leased by Mac Forbes Wines since 2012. The south facing aspect delivers relief to the vines from hot northerly winds. This unique vineyard, planted in 1995, produces stunning fruit in both hot and cooler years and captures much of what we are seeking in terms of suitability of variety to site.
Tasting Notes
As always, the Woori nose seduces. Rocks, stone fruits, lees and finely crushed herbs. The palate is firm and definitive with the recognisable long, savoury, mudstone influenced finish. Just as the fruit slips away, the real wine stirs and takes the wine way back down the palate. This is the wine you want to sit on for a long time. This is dense and pure. Ageing potential of this wine is incredibly exciting.
We recommend decanting this wine prior to serving between 10-12 C.
Vintage
We cannot wait to share these wines. They are outstanding, and we are very excited. They are different. They are gorgeous to open and take time to get to know. Odd can be wonderful. And they will age incredibly well. The surprises will come for years... It's like the turning of pages of the years; the story keeps coming. So please give these wines a chance. They deserve it, and you'll get happily rewarded.
Wine Analysis
Alc/Vol: 11%
Acidity: 8.3g/L
pH: 3.10
Vineyard
Rootstock: Own roots
Clone: I10V1
Planted: 1995
Density: 2.5m x 1.5m
Aspect: South West
Soils: Grey loamy clay over siltstone
Elevation: 120m
Winemaking
Yeast: Wild
Fermentation: Small old oak
Maturation: 9 months in small oak
Fining: None
Filtration: Sterile
Bottles: 1677
Release Date: 21st May 2022
Winefront Review by Gary Walsh
Posted on 23 June 2022
"You won’t find the grape variety on the label these days, just the vineyard.
White peach, lemon rind, almond, fine flinty texture, and even a fair amount of flavour. Acidity is all zest and lemon/lime, pure length and stony feel. Has a little gloss, and a dab of spice, but what drive and persistence! A nutty sake-like quality finishes it off. Outstanding."
95+ Points
2020 'Ferguson' Woori Yallock Pinot Noir
At 1.36ha, the Ferguson vineyard in Woori Yallock has been leased by Mac Forbes Wines since 2012. The south facing aspect delivers relief to the vines from hot northerly winds. This unique vineyard, planted in 1995, produces stunning fruit in both hot and cooler years and captures much of what we are seeking in terms of suitability of variety to site.
Tasting Notes
Bang... stones. Crushed red fruits, spice, depth and weight. So keen to dive in.
The front palate rushes to the back allowing space and time for the DNA of Ferguson to shine. Chalky grip in a firm handshake kind of way. Holds, but reassuring. I want more. And I can only imagine where this wine will take us in the years ahead.
We recommend decanting this wine prior to serving between 12-16Co.
Vintage
We cannot wait to share these wines. They are outstanding, and we are very excited. They are different. They are gorgeous to open and take time to get to know. Odd can be wonderful. And they will age incredibly well. The surprises will come for years... It's like the turning of pages of the years; the story keeps coming. So please give these wines a chance. They deserve it, and you'll get happily rewarded.
Wine Analysis
Alc/Vol: 11%
Acidity: 5.7g/l
pH: 3.59
Vineyard
Rootstock: Own Roots
Clone: MV6
Planted: 1995
Soils: Grey loamy clay over siltstone
Density: 2.5m x 1.5m
Aspect: South West
Elevation: 120m
Winemaking
Yeast: Wild
Fermentation: Oak vat & open fermenter, 20% whole bunch
Maturation: 10 months in small oak
Fining: None
Filtration: None
Bottles: 1213
Release Date: 21st May 2022
Winefront Review by Gary Walsh
Posted on 23 June 2022
"I’ve used a bottle image for the Chardonnay, so just imagine the same thing, but with a bright strawberry coloured wine in bottle.
Spices strawberry a little rose perfume, a dusting of pepper, bright strawberry and raspberry, fine mineral feel to it, some chalk dust to texture, coiled up now, but has lots of potential. Very fine-boned, tight, and different. What it needs is plenty of patience."
94+ Points
(Image: Mac Forbes)