De Beaurepaire Richard Reserve Pinot Noir

A 25 year journey to our first Reserve Pinot Noir. When we set out to establish a vineyard at Rylstone, the reaction from peers and our family in the Yarra Valley was incredulity. Why go to NSW and establish a new wine region which may be no good, when we should just establish ourselves in the Yarra and enjoy the cellar door traffic it brings.

Our idea was that great pinot noir, like in our homeland of Burgundy, needs a continental cool climate which needs to be inland (Burgundy is 400km from the coast) and most of all, it needs to be grown on limestone (calcaire as it is called in France). The search for this ended in Rylstone, and it’s taken 25 years of establishing the vineyard, developing our wine style and gaining confidence before we were happy to produce a reserve Pinot Noir. It’s named after Richard, our co-founder, as a testament to his grit, determination, and vision.  

ALCOHOL: 14.2%