2023 The Wanderer Upper Yarra Pinot Noir

Highly Rated
Ethereal, delicate yet complex Pinot from the skilful hands of Andrew Marks. Gorgeous release of this cult favourite.
4.8
Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
4 Reviews

Price:
Sale price$58.00
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Sold out
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Description

Andrew Marks is a dab hand at crafting Pinot Noir from the Yarra Valley. His outstanding work under both The Wanderer label and his family's label at Gembrook Hill have garnered him plenty of acclaim.

The The Wanderer Upper Yarra Pinot Noir is the wine he's best known for under this label. Sourced from a single vineyard in Yellingbo, at the southern end of the Yarra Valley, the vineyard's low-yielding vines, grown in volcanic red soil at 200m elevation, offer concentrated fruit that’s handled with minimal intervention to let the vineyard's natural character shine.

The wine was made using 20% whole bunches, wild fermentation, and careful ageing in 30% new French oak for 11 months. It’s a Pinot Noir with a lively balance of sweet, ripe fruit and a slightly wild, reductive (smoky) edge. The palate is marked by bright, crunchy tannins and a silky texture, creating a wine that has complexity, charisma and charm in equal portions. 

With only 130 dozen produced, this is great buying here from this small and highly sought-after Yarra producer.

96 points
"Look, admittedly, this Pinot Noir is right up my alley. It’s a bit wild, a bit reductive and it shows a bit of sulphur. I like all those things. It was fermented naturally and saw 20 percent whole bunches, and there’s definitely a ‘bunchy’ edge to the wine, with twig, spice and garden herb notes given a bit of rein. But the fruit at its core is sweet and ripe, and the finish is longer than the Flemington straight. I’m not just hitting the Top Tipple button. I’m hitting Top Value. Winemaker Andrew Marks and the vineyard he works with have really excelled themselves here."
- Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

Single vineyard wine from Yellingbo, at the Southern end of the Yarra Valley. Cane pruned MV6 clone on volcanic red soil with Nth Eastern aspect at 200m elevation.

20% whole bunches. Cold soak and fermentation in open fermenters. Wild ferment. Hand plunged. Large format oak. 30% new Damy Alliers French oak for 11 months on lees. Tasted frequently touched rarely.

From another very low cropping vintage. Only 130 doz made.

96 points - "Look, admittedly, this Pinot Noir is right up my alley. It’s a bit wild, a bit reductive and it shows a bit of sulphur. I like all those things. It was fermented naturally and saw 20 percent whole bunches, and there’s definitely a ‘bunchy’ edge to the wine, with twig, spice and garden herb notes given a bit of rein. But the fruit at its core is sweet and ripe, and the finish is longer than the Flemington straight. I’m not just hitting the Top Tipple button. I’m hitting Top Value. Winemaker Andrew Marks and the vineyard he works with have really excelled themselves here." - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

96 points - "Medium-light, bright purple-red colour with a lifted, expressive, finely detailed aroma of five spice, red and darker cherry, raspberry and rose-petal. Intense, focused and deep flavoured, sweet in its core, with ample extract and fine grained tannins which are barely felt, the finish driving long and focused, with a seamless line. A totally bewitching pinot noir." - Huon Hooke (The Real Review)

Customer Reviews

4.8
Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
Based on 4 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 3 Total 4 star reviews: 1 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
4 reviews
  • LZ
    Linda Z.
    Verified Buyer
    2 years ago
    2022 The Wanderer Upper Yarra Pinot Noir
    Reviewing
    2022 The Wanderer Upper Yarra Pinot Noir
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Beautiful and delicate

    Bright red in the glass, light and velvety on the tongue. A true delight and easy drinking Pinot noir.

  • AH
    Andrew H.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    2 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Enthusiast
    2022 The Wanderer Upper Yarra Pinot Noir
    Reviewing
    2022 The Wanderer Upper Yarra Pinot Noir
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    No wondering about The Wanderer

    Excellent wine. We had it at a restaurant, and it was so good we ordered a half dozen from Different Drop during dinner! Not disappointed when they arrived.

  • NB
    Neil B.
    Verified Buyer
    Wine Knowledge Level Cork Dork
    4 years ago
    Wine Knowledge Level Cork Dork
    2022 The Wanderer Upper Yarra Pinot Noir
    Reviewing
    2022 The Wanderer Upper Yarra Pinot Noir
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Outstanding

    Superb, Burgundian style Pinot

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The Wanderer

The Wanderer is Andrew Marks’ personal venture, allowing him to step beyond his family’s Gembrook Hill vineyard to craft wines that reflect his deep winemaking experience. Raised at Gembrook Hill, one of the Yarra Valley’s pioneering vineyards, Andrew’s path was shaped by early exposure to viticulture and formal training at the University of Adelaide. His work at Penfolds, along with vintages in France and Spain, honed his ability to blend traditional techniques with a modern, thoughtful approach.

Under The Wanderer label, Andrew produces wines that express the unique character of each vineyard with minimal intervention. His delicate Pinot Noir, refined Chardonnay, and Rhone-inspired Syrah showcase finesse and precision, capturing the natural nuances of the fruit. These wines are all about subtlety and complexity, evolving naturally over time to reveal their layers.

Produced in small quantities, The Wanderer wines are highly sought after and known to sell out quickly. Each limited release reflects Andrew’s journey and his dedication to crafting wines that tell a story—of place, of vintage, and of his evolution as a winemaker. For those who appreciate elegance and nuance, The Wanderer offers something truly special, albeit fleeting.

Andrew Marks in the vineyard The Wanderer

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