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At Yaxley Estate our main varieties are Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. In addition to this we have small parcels of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay which are sometimes blended or produced as single varieties depending upon the season. In some years we do not produce any of these varieties as they are not the mainstay of our vineyard and need to be put to one side to ensure the quality of our Pinots remains high.
The Pinot Gris grapes are made into a luscious white wine and the Pinot Noir into a lovely light red by the skilled winemaking team at Frogmore Creek Wines, Cambridge which consists of Alain Rousseau and Nick Glaetzer and capable group of vintage and cellar hands.
Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are the same grape and are typically named according to the style of wine produced from the grape. Yaxley Estate is best known for producing this wine in the Pinot Gris style known best in Alsace, France. The wine is typically full of body with a very rich, complex mouthful of fruit achieved with no oak treatment. The 2004 and 2007 Yaxley vintages are crisper, lighter bodied and citrus driven resulting from a different climate in the vineyard during those years - these wines are more representative of the Grigio style of Northern Italy.
Pinot Noir
Often called the fickle grape, this one can be a little difficult to grow (and to handle at the winery we're told) but well worth the effort! Pinot Noir grows best in a cool climate region with a long ripening period making Tassie the perfect place. It can be full bodied with high alcohol yet still much lighter on the tongue than the bigger reds produced in Australia's warmer climates. It is not usually tannic (no furry teeth for those who drink this wine) and yet it is not overly acidic either. As a result, these reds are not usually the type to be left for tens of years in the cellar, they reach their peak more often five years or so after vintage. Fickle in the vineyard and fickle in the cellar too; you may open one at 3 years to find it seems past its best but at five years it could be amazing, the reverse can also be true! We say, grab a case or two of a good pinot noir (preferably one from Yaxley Estate) and drink some right now, put the rest away and try more every year - you can never have enough of this beautiful drop!
