Established: 1978
Location:Aitken Road, Seville, off Wandin Creek Road.
Phone:(059) 64 3379 Fax: (059) 64 2061
Winemaker: Michael Zitzlaff.
Important Varietals: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon.
Personal Comments:
I've tried to visit this winery two or three times previously but it was only by turning up on a Sunday that I was able to find it open. I was certainly unlucky on those prior occasions as this winery has immediately entered my smallish list of preferred Yarra Valley wineries. It is a bit off the beaten track, being at the bottom end of the Valley at an elevated location, but is definitely worth seeking out. This provides for a relatively frost-free micro-climate which has bud-burst somewhat later than the rest of the Valley wineries.
The winery produces two major labels: Oakridge and Oakridge Reserve, with the Reserve only being produced in years when the fruit quality is of an exceptional level. This isn't one of those years but if the 1995 Oakridge Chardonnay is anything to go by then the Reserve quality must be quite exceptional. I sampled a bottle over lunch while sitting under the huge oak trees on the property, overlooking the vines and watching my daughter swinging away under the trees. Truly wonderful stuff.
Recent vintages worth considering:
In The Age newspaper winery section of December 3rd 1996, comes the news that Oakridge Estate has been awarded a gold medal in the "Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Blends" class of the Le Concours des Vins du Victoria Awards for their 1994 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
In addition, James Halliday has named the 1995 Reserve Chardonnay one of his top 100 wines of the year stating that Oakridge Estate has produced "few better wines than this". I wouldn't mind checking it out, but, at $35, I feel it might be outside my league. Halliday says it will last until the year 2003. Winestate magazine also rates the Reserve Chardonnay very highly giving it a maximum 5 stars and stating: "Creamy vanillin nose with a light citrus fruit palate - smooth and seamless. Nutty malo and oak adds complexity to this very persistent wine. Outstanding."
This page, and all contents, are copyright © 1996-2001 by Perry Middlemiss, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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Last modified: March 30, 2001.