2025 The Wanderer Yellingbo Chardonnay

95 pts
A tiny production, volcanic-soil Upper Yarra Chardonnay from a wonderful artisan producer.

Price:
Sale price$42.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
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Description

Andrew Marks makes some of the tightest, most energetic Chardonnay in the Yarra and this excellent offering from a tiny plot at Yellingbo is one of the best value we've seen from him. Planted on iron-rich red volcanic dirt at 200 metres, this is high-country chardonnay with attitude.

Andrew presses the whole bunches straight into old, oversized French barrels with full solids, then basically leaves it alone on lees without a single stir until bottling. Very minimal handling but all class by the time it hits the glass.

The 2025 vintage is incredibly lean and precise, carrying an unforced whiff of white stone fruits, bitter citrus rind, and a distinct, ocean-spray saltiness. Great drive across the palate, all about chalky texture and a nutty, savoury dry finish that just lingers.

With only 70 dozen made, it is a proper blink-and-you-miss-it release here from Marksy. 

95 points - "A single-vineyard wine from Yellingbo in the Upper Yarra, barrel-fermented and matured in older French puncheons. Subtle aromas of nectarine, pink grapefruit and lemon curd. Beautifully balanced on a pure-fruited, delicate, chalky-textured and saline palate. Finishes nutty and long. Drink now and over the next four to five years." - Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)

94 points - "Put this away for a while and you’ll be rewarded. It’s powerful but reticent, and it really needs a spell. It tastes of preserved lemons and nectarines, wax, saltbush and white peach, and it builds beautifully as it progresses through the palate. In fact for all intents, as a young wine, it’s immaculate." - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)

From Yellingbo in the Upper Yarra Valley.

Cane pruned Chardonnay on red volcanic soil with a Northerly aspect at 200m elevation. Whole bunch pressed then run into barrel with full solids the next day. Wild fermentation, left on lees without stirring until bottling. Fermentation and elevage in seasoned large format french oak.

Only 70 dozen made, extremely limited.

Estate bottled.

Price Bracket $41 to $50
Type White
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Chardonnay
Country Australia
Region Yarra Valley
Australian State VIC
Reviewed By The Wine Front
Halliday Wine Companion
Critic Score 95
Alcohol 12.5%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2025
Closure DIAM Cork

The Wanderer

The Wanderer is Andrew Marks’ personal venture, allowing him to step beyond his family’s Gembrook Hill vineyard to craft wines that reflect his deep winemaking experience. Raised at Gembrook Hill, one of the Yarra Valley’s pioneering vineyards, Andrew’s path was shaped by early exposure to viticulture and formal training at the University of Adelaide. His work at Penfolds, along with vintages in France and Spain, honed his ability to blend traditional techniques with a modern, thoughtful approach.

Under The Wanderer label, Andrew produces wines that express the unique character of each vineyard with minimal intervention. His delicate Pinot Noir, refined Chardonnay, and Rhone-inspired Syrah showcase finesse and precision, capturing the natural nuances of the fruit. These wines are all about subtlety and complexity, evolving naturally over time to reveal their layers.

Produced in small quantities, The Wanderer wines are highly sought after and known to sell out quickly. Each limited release reflects Andrew’s journey and his dedication to crafting wines that tell a story—of place, of vintage, and of his evolution as a winemaker. For those who appreciate elegance and nuance, The Wanderer offers something truly special, albeit fleeting.

Andrew Marks in the vineyard The Wanderer

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