2024-varietal-winners

Top Rated: Other Reds and Blends

By Halliday Wine Companion

Of all categories, other than perhaps grenache, this was the one where there was the most agreement. All the wines were served blind and yet the iconic Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 3 streeted the field. There was also, quite rightly, strong support for Swinney Farvie Mourvèdre 2021, the latter producer going close to winning this category last year as well.

2024 Other Reds and Blends of the Year

Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 3 2021, Yarra Valley

97 points | Price when tasted $110


Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 3 2021, Yarra Valley

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A blend of 35/35/12/7/6/5 per cent touriga nacional/tinta cão/tinta amarela/tinta roriz/alvarelhão/sousão, all sourced from 1990 plantings. Yarra Yering and winemaker Sarah Crowe have hit the jackpot with their superb line-up of 2021 reds. Five trophies for three different wines at the 2022 Yarra Valley Wine Show, including the trophy for Best Red Wine in Show for this wine a testament to that. Founder Bailey Carrodus originally planted these Portuguese varieties to make fortified wine. While the odd fortified is still made here, it's the Dry Red Wine No. 3 – a modern-day classic – that benefits. A totally gorgeous wine that's hard to put down once you've had a sip, this exhibits a riotous array of red and black fruits, wildflowers, dried herbs, licorice root and cocoa nibs. Medium bodied and fragrant in the mouth, too! Gently chewy, well-knit tannins make this wine a total joy to drink in its youth, yet it will still be looking good five to seven years from now. – Philip Rich

The 2024 Halliday Wine Companion is available now. Secure your copy of Australia's most comprehensive wine guide here – and at all good bookstores. 

This is an edited extract from the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion, with reviews by James Halliday, Campbell Mattinson, Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Mike Bennie, Ned Goodwin MW, Philip Rich and Shanteh Wale. Cover art by Ka Mo.