The Dry Red Wine No. 2 is one of Yarra Yerings most iconic and age-worthy winescomplex, perfumed, and beautifully balanced. A masterful Rhne-inspired blend, it offers both power and restraint, expressing the unique character of the Yarra Valleys historic vineyards with remarkable depth and finesse.

Meet the Producer

Founded in 1969 by Dr. Bailey Carrodus, Yarra Yering is one of Australias most revered wineries and a benchmark for quality in the Yarra Valley. With a focus on minimal intervention and meticulous vineyard care, the estate crafts elegant, expressive wines that capture the regions cool-climate beauty. Today, winemaker Sarah Crowe continues this legacy, combining traditional techniques with precise modern winemaking to produce wines of exceptional structure and longevity.

Vineyards

Fruit for Dry Red Wine No. 2 is sourced from the original 1969 plantings of Shiraz and Marsanne, along with Mataro and Viognier vines planted between 1984 and 1995. The Yarra Valleys temperate climate, combined with gravelly loam soils and meticulous hand-tending, ensures grapes of outstanding concentration and balance.

Winemaking

Grapes are hand-picked and chilled overnight before being sorted and destemmed into half-tonne open fermenters. Whole berries are retained to preserve fragrance, and a small portion of frozen Viognier skins is added to enhance aromatic lift. The wine is matured for 15 months in French oak barriques (30% new), then blended and bottled with minimal handling to preserve purity and texture.

Tasting Notes

Complex and layered, the wine offers an alluring nose of violets, cranberry, and plum, intertwined with bramble, five spice, and cigar box notes. The palate is moderate in weight yet richly flavoured, with summer pudding fruits, hints of cardamom, and a dry spice finish. Firm yet fine tannins provide structure, carrying the fruit through a long, elegant finish.

Cellaring Potential

Approachable in its youth but built for longevity, this wine will evolve beautifully over 20+ years under proper cellaring, developing added depth, savoury complexity, and silken texture.

Food Match

Perfect with slow-roasted lamb, duck confit, or spiced eggplant dishes. Its balance of savoury spice and red fruit also pairs beautifully with game meats or hard cheeses.

Technical Information

• Varietals: 98.5% Shiraz, 0.5% Marsanne, 0.5% Mataro, 0.5% Viognier