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Toolangi Vineyards

So you own a 12 hectare estate in the Yarra Valley, planted with desirable international varieties; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz. You need a winemaker. With three different varieties planted up, and with plans for more - Viognier and Cabernet Sauvignon - just who do you hire?

This was the dilemma facing Julie and Garry Hounsell of Toolangi Vineyards following their acquisition of said estate in 1995. Their solution was unique and, arguably, a brilliant one. They hired the expertise of numerous renowned winemakers, ensuring that each of their cultivated varieties was vinified by experienced hands. So the Shiraz is made by Trevor Mast of top Australian winery Mount Langi Ghiran (and it shows), the top Pinot Noir by Matt Harrop of Shadowfax, and so on. The idea seems to work, with Toolangi producing a range of full-flavoured, fruit-laden, typically Antipodean wines.

Most of the fruit used for the Toolangi label is sourced from the Hounsell's own vineyards, although some fruit may be purchased. The estate vineyards are located in Dixon's Creek on well drained north-easterly facing slopes consisting of clay beneath a thin layer of topsoil. Yering Viticultural Services manage the vineyard work, with good attention to yield reduction using green harvesting and bunch thinning. They are, like many warm climate sites, drip irrigated to avoid dehydration stress during the hottest summer months.

In the winery the Chardonnays are barrel fermented, a fact quite obvious on tasting, before up to a year in oak, depending on the cuvee. Lesser Chardonnays are made at the Yering Station Winery. The Chardonnay Reserve, as well as the basic (although hand harvested) Pinot Noir ferments under the watchful eye of Rick Kinzbrunner of Giaconda, whereas the Pinot Noir Reserve is, as mentioned above, made by Matt Harrop of Shadowfax. The Shiraz, the most successful wine in my opinion, is vinified at Mount Langi Ghiran. (15/6/04)

Contact details:
Address: Yarra Valley, Victoria
Telephone: +61 (0) 3 9822 9488
Fax: +61 (0) 3 9804 3365
Internet: www.toolangivineyards.com.au

Toolangi Vineyards - Tasting Notes

The following wines were tasted courtesy in June 2004. Click to locate stockists.

Toolangi Chardonnay (Yarra Valley) 2001: Fat tartrate crystals here, in wine of pale golden hue. The nose suggests a smoky, mealy application of oak over some oily fruit. A full, impressive texture on the palate, with plenty of grip and even some tannin. There is sparkling bright acidity and some sweet mealy fruit. Pleasant wine for current drinking. 14/20

Toolangi Chardonnay Reserve (Yarra Valley) 2001: A mid gold colour. Powerful barrel ferment aromas on the nose, with rich, mealy oak, and white fruits dripping in honey and golden syrup, and notes of cordite and crushed minerals. The palate comes through with similar power, obvious mealy oak, with a rich texture, and oak-derived grippy notes of tannin providing some masculine structure. Certainly a very firm, assertive finish, with good, minerally acidity keeping the wine fresh and in balance. Some powerful stuff indeed. 14.5/20

Toolangi Pinot Noir (Yarra Valley) 2001: A few potassium tartrate crystals. A good colour, still youthful and bright, and showing good density. Some volatility to what is primary fruit on the nose, with a chocolate edge. A full, concentrated palate, sweet with a velvety texture. There is good fruit too, a little tannin, and acidity is on the low side. A good effort. 15/20

Toolangi Shiraz (Yarra Valley) 2001: A dark, glossy, red-purple hue. A good nose here - full of super-ripe black fruit with a strong vein of chocolate and mint, along with a lovely beetroot and coffee complexity. The palate is smoothly textured, creamy, and packed with fruit which has a very similar flavour profile to that found on the nose. Sweet, ripe, and with plenty of extract. Showy finish. Now this is a real success. 16.5/20