Real Review on the Serrat Shiraz Viognier 2022

Huon Hooke 15 February 2024

Real Review on the Serrat 'Autres Terres' Nenagh Park Pinot Noir 2022

Stuart Knox 14 February 2024

Real Review on the Serrat Pinot Noir 2022

Stuart Knox 14 February 2024

Real Review on the Serrat Grenache Noir 2022

Stuart Knox 12 February 2024

Real Review on the Serrat Chardonnay 2022

Stuart Knox 06 February 2024

Real Review on the Serrat Fourre-Tout 2022

Stuart Knox 06 February 2024

Halliday Wine Companion 2024

Serrat Chardonnay 2022 96pts Mendoza clone, whole-bunch pressed, natural-yeast fermented and matured in seasoned 600L French oak, no mlf and 11 months on full solids. A bright green gold. White stone fruits, rockmelon, orange blossom, a hint of jasmine and very subtle oak can all be found in this very complex and subtle wine. On the palate, this has a gentle creaminess balanced by a crystalline acidity. A little more open and softer than last year's version but equally as good. Serrat Pinot Noir 2022 97pts A mix of MV6 and Pommard clones; 25% whole bunches, natural-yeast ferment, 12 days on skins. Matured in 500L French oak casks (33% new). A deep-ish bright crimson. Darkly fruited with black raspberries, cherry skins, crushed violets, sandalwood and fennel seeds. You barely notice the whole bunches. The subtly creamy and detailed palate gets better the longer it sits in the glass, and I love how this wine is built to age yet still drinking well in its youth. Serrat "Autres Terres" Pinot Noir 2022 96pts The first Serrat wine produced from grapes not grown on the property, with fruit from the Nenagh Park vineyard established west of Yarra Glen (on an east-facing slope) by viticulturist Stephen Sadlier in 1989. A bright ruby crimson. Nicely detailed, this brightly fruited wine has aromas of red cherries and redcurrants with hints of violets and subtle spice. The light- to medium-bodied and impeccably balanced palate makes for a wine that is approachable now but has both the depth and structure to reward up to 10 years in the cellar. Serrat Grenache Noir 2022 96pts BVRC38 clone, 25% whole bunches and a natural-yeast fermentation with 14 days on skins. Matured in one 600L and one 500L French cask (the latter five years old). With its perfumed aromas of spiced raspberries, preserved rhubarb and 'herbes de Provence' this is another delightful grenache from Serrat. Light to medium bodied, fine, chalky tannins and bright acidity round out a wine that you'll struggle to keep your hands off. Serrat Fourre-Tout 2022 A blend of 59/20/17/4% barbera/nebbiolo/malbec/pinot noir. 12 days on skins and matured in seasoned 500L French puncheons for 10 months. A deep crimson purple. This has a riotous amalgam of black cherries, blueberries and blackcurrants together with violets, musk and a hint of bay leaf. Juicy and delicious, this is the ideal bistro wine that would go down a treat with everything from charcuterie to a big bowl of spaghetti or lamb cutlets. The perfect hump day wine! Serrat Shiraz Viognier 2022 98Pts Best's old-block clone (70%) and BVRC15 clone (30%); 5% whole bunches, co-fermented with 5% viognier. A natural-yeast ferment with 15 days on skins, matured in 500L French oak (25% new) for 11 months. A saturated purple. Saturated and intense on the nose, too. Concentrated yet balanced, you'll find aromas of blue and dark fruits, violets, incense and sweet spices such as clove and cinnamon. A gorgeous mouthful, this is powerful and structured but without any sense of heaviness. Australian shiraz viognier (or shiraz, for that matter) doesn't get much better than this. It's pretty much a steal at this price, too.

Philip Rich Published 02 August 2023

25 Great Reds (over $30) - 2019 Serrat Yarra Valley Grenache Noir

I have sought to create a list of seriously good wines that offer exceptional value for money , as I realise tat in these COVID-19 times, discretional spending may be limited. Hand-Picked, bunch sorted, open-fermented with 80% whole berry /20% whole bunch, 12 days on skins, matured in used French puncheons for 11 months. Clear and bright crimson; gloriously pure varietal red fruits float across the mouth on a silken waft of red cherries and elfin spices. Meltingly beautiful wines. 13.5% alc. Drink 2029

James Halliday Halliday Magazine Aug/Sept 2020

Serrat Shiraz Viognier 2018

The wine has 5% whole bunch and 5% viognier co-fermented (wild), 15 days on skins, no punchdowns only pumpovers, matured in French puncheons (25% new) for 11 months. The colour is superb, but it's the vibrancy and freshness that takes your breath away, the flavours tingling on the tongue after you have swallowed. Published 01 August 2019

97 pts- James Halliday Wine Companion 2020

Serrat Pinot Noir 2018

MV6, wild-fermented with 25% whole bunches, 13 days on skins, only pumpovers (no plunging), matured for 11 months in French puncheons (25% new). Abundant varietal fruit flavours; quite rich and will absolutely repay cellaring as floral, spicy notes appear.

96 pts- James Halliday Wine Companion 2020

Serrat Chardonnay 2018

Hand-picked Mendoza clone, whole-bunch pressed, wild-fermented in French puncheons, no mlf, matured for 11 months with minimal stirring. White peach, nectarine and melon, no grapefruit. Attention to detail, doing more by doing less. Published 01 August 2019

95 pts- James Halliday Wine Companion 2020

Serrat Shiraz Viognier 2017

Open-fermented with 5% whole bunches and 5% viognier, 12 days on skins, matured for 11 months in French puncheons (25% new). Deep crimson; fascinating bouquet - I don't always find the violets that others talk about, but here they go close to challenging the dark cherry/blackberry fruits, and the spiced cracked pepper. The finish is simultaneously slippery, yet gently tactile, refusing to let go.

98 pts- James Halliday Wine Companion 2019

Serrat Chardonnay 2017

Whole-bunch pressed, wild-fermented in French puncheons (25% new) on full solids, no mlf, matured for 11 months. The clarity of expression of this wine is outstanding. White peach holds front of stage, leaving grapefruit/citrus/apple nuances to follow, with a mere shadow of oak. The balance is utterly exceptional.

97 pts-James Halliday Wine Companion 2019

Serrat Fourre-Tout 2017

46% barbera, 31% malbec, 9% nebbiolo, 7% pinot noir and 7% grenache, fermented and matured separately in used French oak for 11 months. If this proves that Tom Carson has the golden touch (and it does) I'm happy. If it means he was simply having a bit of fun, I'm likewise all for it. Think of the practical jokes by great classical wine composers, players and singers. It's simply bloody delicious.

95 pts James Halliday Wine Companion 2019

Serrat Grenache Noir 2017

Wild-fermented with 10% whole bunches, 14 days on skins, 11 months in used French oak. Clean, bright crimson; highly fragrant; bright red fruits, cherry to the fore, raspberry close behind, inhabit both the back-palate, tannins simply a farewell kiss. Welcome cool climate grenache.

96 pts James Halliday Wine Comanion 2019

Serrat Pinot Noir 2017

Destemmed, wild-fermented in small open fermenters with 20% whole bunches, 12 days on skins, 11 months in French puncheons (25% new). Very good colour; it's hard to tear yourself away from the infinitely complex bouquet to begin the tasting process, to find a whirling dervish of spicy, savoury red and blue fruits on an exceptionally long palate. It's hard to nominate single fruit influences because of the purity and singularity of this gloriously fresh wine. $90 a bottle would be a fair price.

98 pts James Halliday Wine Companion 2019

Serrat Chardonnay 2015 Top ranked 2015 chardonnay in Halliday's Companion 2016

Hand-picked, whole bunch-pressed, wild-fermented in French puncheons (20% new), matured for 11 months. Yarra Valley deeply embedded in its DNA; it is super-intense and almost impossibly long, the oak merely a vehicle. Despite all its energy, it has a flowery delicacy.

98 points, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2016

Serrat Pinot Noir 2015

Light, clear and bright colour; a particularly fragrant, spicy bouquet, then a palate with great drive and intensity, small red fruits with fine, lipsmacking tannins providing length and aftertaste.

A wine James Halliday considered to offer special value for money!

96 points, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2016

Serrat Shiraz Viognier 2015

95% shiraz (Best old clone 1866 planting/BVRC 15) and 5% viognier co-fermented, 95% whole berries, 5% whole bunches, open wild ferment, matured for 11 months in French oak (25% new). Deep crimson-purple; a worthy successor to the 14 (Wine of the Year Wine Companion 16); very complex, deep and powerful, seemingly reflecting its clonal heritage ex Best's more (unless it's vine maturity) Spice and pepper are threaded through the red/black cherry and plum fruit; fine tannins and entirely integrated and balanced oak complete a story that has to be personally experienced. Remember all this achieved at 13% alcohol.

98 points, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2016

Serrat Fourre-Tout 2015

Since Serrat ? and its two owner/winemakers ? walk on water, why shouldn?t they lead the world by blending 60% malbec with 40% nebbiolo (and a splash of grenache) for a grand total of absolutely delicious plum and cherry fruit. It?s almost sacrilegious to subject it to points.

95 points, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2016

Serrat Grenache Noir 2015

Hand-picked and sorted in the vineyard, destemmed, open wild ferment, 12 days on skins, matured in a used puncheon for 11 months, 48 dozen made. Light, bright colour; lively crunchy red fruit flavours and texture; crisp finish; cool climate grenache is a very different proposition to McLaren Vale.

94 points, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2016

Chardonnay 2014

A super-elegant chardonnay, perfectly capturing the line and extreme length that is the mark of the region; grapefruit leads the flavours, followed by white peach and minerally acidity; oak plays an important rile in building on the structure provided by the acidity. All good, as they say, but more again in due course.

96 points James Halliday - Wine Companion tasting notes Published on 29 Jun 2015

2014 Shiraz Viognier

If you look at the pedigree of Serrat it’s no surprise they have received a magnitude of accolades in recent years, the vineyard has been planted on a great site in the Yarra Valley with special attention paid to close planting practices that suit the Burgundian and Rhone varieties in particular. The winemaking team is Tom Carson and wife Nadège Carson, Tom has been crafting top quality wines through both Yabby Lake and Heathcote Estate for many years.

The nose has a briny character with floral top notes siting alongside peppery plum and olive.

The palate gives a savoury undertone which is a great counterpoint to the silky, almost effortless mid palate that showcases bright blackberry with touches of liquorice , the wine has significant length and will continue to grow and evolve over the next decade.

The integrity shown to not raise the price on the 2015 post an incredibly glowing review of the 2014 (99 Halliday Points) should also be commended.

Patrick Eckel 17/06/16

Shiraz Viognier 2014

This is pre-release I beleive but forewarned is forewarmed. It's from the close planted vineyard of Tom and Nadège Carson. It's made in tiny quantity.

Tom Carson's wine almost always drip with polish and class and this release is more evidence of that. It's so modern and so manicured, as a starting point. But from there, it gets interesting. The bedrock of fruit is ripe and the oak complementary but the wine is povocatively smoky,herbal peppery and generally savoury. It's plush but more fundamentally , it's Yarra Valley. It's one of those wines where you keep have to dive back in for another "look". The finish is also most impressively long. If cool climate shiraz is on your radar you must track some of this down.

96 points Campbell Mattinson - Winefront

Chardonnay 2013

Quartz-green; a beautifully constructed and finely textured Chardonnay, with an utterly seamless integration of fruit, oak and life-giving acidity; the length is pure Yarra, seemingly effortless, the flavours pitched between white peach and grapefruit, with just a hint of fig lurking in the background - or is it the oak? Whichever, it's subtle.

96 points, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2015

Pinot Noir 2013

This a stealth bomber, power and intensity hidden from first view, but not once the bomb hits. A great bargain

97 points, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2015

Shiraz Viognier 2013

Good crimson-purple; the black and red cherry, spice and plum aromas of the bouquet pay homage to the co-fermented Viognier, but the power and depth of the medium to full-bodied palate add a substantial dimension to the wine; the magic comes into the form of a flash of red fruits on the aftertaste in the wake of the savoury tannins that precede it.

96 points, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2015

Grenache 2013

Light, clear crimson-purple; the fragrant red cherry, raspberry and cinnamon of the bouquet leads into a palate that opens with red fruits, moving to a gently savoury finish with a tannin profile that will serve the wine well in the years ahead.

95 points, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2015

Shiraz Viognier 2013

From Tom and Nadege Carson’s own property in the Yarra Valley. Close-planting is important here, right down to getting a mention in the name of the wine. Serrat appropriated in wine language suggests close-planting, derived from its translation in French meaning clamp, tighten or constrict. There is 25% whole bunch in the ferment and very small portion of new 500L French oak barrels are used.

It shows dark fruit, cola sweetness, earthy characters, a dusting of cloves and some dried herbs in perfume. Flavours are mix of red and black fruit, firm and long in texture, finishing with freshness and a light chalkiness. Feels very pure, squeaky and pent up with good energy and a pretty seamless mesh of its components. A sinewy, tightly wound wine when first tasted, the wine manages to flex and loosen-up with some air time. Worthy.

Mike Bennie

Mofo Buyer Karel recently fell in love with a bottle of this Pinot he found at a Melbourne hotspot (which is surprising because I didn’t think they sold wine at internet cafes) and while we don’t want to name the hotspot (Thai food with a waiting list that goes on for a mile), we will name the Serrat Pinot as Mofo HQ’s newfound star. Crafted by Tom Carson of Yabby Lake fame, it’s perfumed, silky and incredibly sexy with romantic notes of dark cherry, plum and smoky spice. 97 point Pinots are a rarity at less than $40 and even Halliday said that this is a great bargain, so jump all over it because it’s perfect and it’s Pinot - and those two things don't go together often.

Shiraz Viognier 2013 Vibrant ruby. Fragrant, spicy bouquet leads into a well-structured palate showing notes of ripe strawberry, white and black pepper, underpinned by firm tannins that will lend the wine longevity. Beautifully balanced and poised. Drink now - 2023+

Andrea Pritzker, Langton's