Mount Mary 2017 Vintage

Mount Mary was one of the foremost pioneers of the rebirth of the Yarra Valley after 50 years without viticultural activity, and right from the outset produced wines of rare finesse and purity. Today its star shines brighter than that of any of the 174 wineries in the Yarra Valley. The late founder, Dr John Middleton, practised near-obsessive attention to detail long before that phrase slid into oenological vernacular. He relentlessly strove for perfection, and all four of the wines in the original Mount Mary portfolio achieved just that (within the context of each vintage). Charming grandson Sam Middleton is equally dedicated. An all-encompassing recent tasting of every vintage of these four wines left me in no doubt he is making even better wines since assuming the winemaker mantle in June 2011. Moreover, after protracted trials, two Rhone Valley-inspired wines have been released, looking to the future yet also honouring John's late wife, Marli Russell. Winery of the Year 2018 Wine Companion. – James Halliday