Category: Wine

We shine the spotlight on one of the Yarra Valley’s most important subregions and our wines that come from this special area.

It’s higher, cooler and has some of the valley’s most loved vineyards. Don’t be confused by it’s name though, as the Upper Yarra is actually in the south. This subregion adds a lot of diversity to the Yarra Valley, but as we’ve found through our exploration of pinot noir and chardonnay over the years, the same site doesn’t necessarily mean the same results.

We’ve found that our Upper Yarra wines have a certain yin and yang character, which really shows in our ‘Dans les Bois’ and ‘Terre’ ranges of pinot noir and chardonnay. To our winemaker, Kaspar Hermann, they’re affectionately known as the ‘siblings’, and though both of these wines are grown in the same area, the results couldn’t be more different.

To get even more specific, the ‘siblings’ hail from the Gembrook area of the Upper Yarra, which is known for its volcanic derived red soils on a granite outcrop. These quartz-rich soils are perfect for growing chardonnay and pinot noir. Gembrook has some of the southernmost vineyards in the valley and as such, the cooler temperatures mean that we can retain the freshness and natural acidity and allow for more complex layers of flavour through longer ripening periods.

The Dans les Bois (in the woods) Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are named for the stunning location of the vineyard, which is surrounded by trees. We’ve found that this whimsical name tends to suit the characteristics of the wines;the pinot noir is prettier, more fruit expressive, and has a softer tannin structure, while the chardonnay is often referred to as the fruit salad of the vineyard as you get a variety of flavours including ripe peach, lime curd, and baked lemon tart.

The Terre Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are vastly different wines. The appropriately named ‘Terre’, or ‘earth’, range comes from the granite ridge that runs through Gembrook and these wines are more earthy and mineral. They’re tighter in their early years, but truly reward those with a little patience.

The pinot noir is earthy, spicy and has a stronger tannic presence. Recently rated 98 points by Halliday, it’s described as, ‘A supremely elegant and expressive wine that flows joyously along the palate and into the long aftertaste.’ The chardonnay, on the other hand, has a touch of smoky reduction on first look, and more fresh citrus characters dominate the palate with a long mineral finish. As you go deeper into your glass, there are creamy cashews and richer, lemon curd.

If you want to see our Gembrook ‘siblings’ in action, we love opening up these wines side by side. Head to our website to see the range of Single Vineyard wines and try them for yourself.

Get to know one of our Yarra Valley sites, Isabella’s Vineyard, and the wines that make up the range. 

It’s something that constantly comes up when we talk about extra-special wines: they speak of their place. Some call it terroir, others call it provenance; either way, when you drink a single vineyard wine, there’s a special something that goes with it.

Isabella’s Vineyard is one of our best vineyard sites and situated in the sub-region of Gruyere on the coveted Briarty Road contour. The site was purchased at the end of 2009 and named after Isabella, who is the daughter of Helmut, Rochford’s owner. Boasting some of the Yarra’s most famous vineyards as neighbours, Isabella’s gets plenty of sun and has the added benefit of being sheltered, meaning great concentration of flavour in the fruit. The steep slopes also provide great air-drainage, so the cool air can descend down the slopes to prevent the risk of frost. 

The other special thing about this site is the vine maturity, with the vines here being over 30 years old. As vines age, they settle into their environment and the subsequent wines gain more and more complexity. The three varieties that are planted here are chardonnay, pinot noir, and cabernet sauvignon, so let’s take a closer look at this Single Vineyard Range.

Rochford Single Vineyard Isabella’s Chardonnay 2018

This chardonnay has a significant intensity to it, with the nose driven by lemon, grapefruit and a subtle chamomile character layered with struck match. Isabella’s Chardonnay is deeply flavoured and amongst the concentrated citrus, it is balanced by it’s minerality and superfine phenolics. The mid-term cellaring potential will reward the patient ones with development of the cashew-like creaminess and white nectarine characters starting to shine through.

Rochford Single Vineyard Isabella’s Pinot Noir 2019

This vintage is the very first iteration of Isabella’s Pinot Noir. This pinot is deep, broody and intensely aromatic. The darker red fruits of mulberry, cherry, and plum are complemented by warm baking spices and earthy tones. The tannins are almost talc-like, supporting the layered and complex flavours. This is definitely a pinot noir heading into the medium-bodied territory, but it still has a refreshing acidity that makes it infinitely appealing. 

Rochford Single Vineyard Isabella’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Isabella’s Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine that will last the distance in your collection. With mulberries, blackcurrants and plums driving the nose, it’s layered with a subtle herbal character and the sweet spice and fruit characters are supported by gravelly tannins. This cabernet really walks the line of savoury and fruit character with elegance, and with the secondary characters starting to peep through, we’re excited to see where this wine will be in the years to come.

There’s no doubt that the wines from this site are only going to get better as we understand the parcels and harness the very best from the vines. We want to make sure that our winemaking is simply used as a toolkit to show just what these sites can do. 

Ready to take a deep dive into the range with our new Isabella’s Collection? You can find the mixed pack on the website, or come and taste them the next time you’re visiting our cellar door.