Bird on a Wire, Yarra Valley

Having learned her craft at Yering Station, Hardy’s and the Rhône’s legendary JL Chave, Caroline Mooney struck out on her own establishing Bird On A Wire in 2008. Her philosophy resonates with those wines to which she was exposed in her childhood. In her own words “it’s about expressing the pedigree of the single vineyards with which she works and the specificity of each season”.

The Marsanne vineyard catches plenty of sun and the lean soils help the development of distinctive Marsanne characters of white flowers, spice, fennel and honey. Fermented mostly in old barrels and with full malo. The Chardonnay is sourced from a vineyard high up in the Yarra Valley with vines 36 years old. 100% French oak (25% new) which with the aid of barrel fermentation is well integrated. 25% malolactic fermentation. Fruit for Caroline’s Syrah is from a vineyard in Yarra Glen, which is on an ENE slope optimising the warm sun but protecting fruit from Australia’s harsh afternoon summer heat. Aged with 25% new oak. No Fining, no filtration. The excellent Nebbiolo is hand picked, destemmed and worked to minimise sweet fruit influences and maximise the savoury extraction from the skins of the fruit.