Bibendum Wine Co.
Bibendum Wine Co.
Bibendum Wine Co.
Bibendum Wine Co.

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Toolangi

A Yarra Valley Star, Reborn
Toolangi


There are vineyards you work, and there are vineyards that work on you. For winemaker Kaspar Hermann, Toolangi is the latter.

 

Over the years he's spent working at this Dixon's Creek site, nestled on the border of its namesake Toolangi State Forest, Hermann has grown enamoured of it, convinced of its quality and potential. When Helmut Konecsny's hands-on ownership began in 2017 and Hermann initially took the reins as winemaker, Toolangi entered a new and vital chapter that we have been privileged to follow. Hermann has since taken on custodianship of the estate in a real sense: putting down roots and building a life among the vines alongside his wife and family. It's a meaningful commitment in wine to choose to belong to a place itself, and in this case, one that reflects the vast potential of this site.

 

With Hermann now leading the winemaking, the vineyard has entered a new chapter, grounded in rejuvenated viticulture and a less-worked winemaking philosophy, letting this "relatively undiscovered" Yarra Valley gem show what it's truly capable of.

The Wines

Toolangi Vineyard Pauls Lane Chardonnay 2025

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Toolangi Vineyard Pauls Lane Chardonnay 2025

Toolangi Vineyard stands among the Yarra Valley’s finest Chardonnay sites. Located in the Dixon’s Creek subregion and bordered by the Toolangi State Forest, this sheltered, low-yielding vineyard is planted to Gingin, Mendoza, and I10V3 clones on fine clay-loam soils. Year after year, it produces wines of distinct character and a strong sense of place.

Pauls Lane Chardonnay is sourced from just 20 rows within D Block on the 11-hectare property, all planted to the I10V3 clone when the vineyard was established in 1995. The fruit was handpicked on 15th February, then crushed, destemmed, and pressed to French oak (10%) for fermentation, followed by nine months’ maturation on lees. Winemaker Kaspar Hermann avoids malolactic conversion for this cuvée, as the I10V3 clone naturally achieves an ideal balance of acidity and flavour.

The 2025 release is another standout—showcasing pure citrus and stone fruit flavours, bright zesty acidity, and subtle spice, all carried through a long finish with a distinctive saline edge. A finely tuned, full-expression Chardonnay from one of the Yarra’s go-to producers.

"From a single block of 31-year-old vines. 15% new wood, no mlf. A bright green gold. Harmonious with its gentle stone fruit aromas together with some melon and quince scents. This fills out nicely on the palate while keeping its shape, before finishing saline, chalky, savoury and long. Drink now and over the next three to five years."
96 points, Philip Rich, Wine Companion
"A more savoury style in a way with spiced apple, a little aniseed, stone fruit, pear, and some grapefruit freshness. A bit of flesh, a flinty feel to it, with gentle grip on a finish of very good length. Quite glossy and flavoursome, spiced apple oatmeal is a thing here, offering something of a salty persuasion to close. A sort of almond friand richness too. Very good."
94 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
Toolangi Vineyard Pauls Lane Chardonnay 2025

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Toolangi Vineyard F Block Chardonnay 2024

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Toolangi Vineyard F Block Chardonnay 2024

White wax cap over DIAM cork. Toolangi’s F Block is a one-hectare plot perched on the highest, easternmost sector of the 11-hectare Dixon’s Creek vineyard. Nestled in the corner, within touching distance of the Toolangi State Forest to the northeast and in the afternoon shadow of a large hill to the south, it’s a well-sheltered plot. This position helps preserve the high levels of natural acidity critical to maintaining balance from a site famed for powerful flavour. The soils are shallow and rocky, with more white clay than lower down, which Kaspar Hermann credits with the wine’s sculpted, chalky personality. Yields are always low, rarely providing more than seven or eight barrels, and in this poor flowering year, Hermann had enough for just five. The 21-year-old vines are Gingin clone and produce thick-skinned, full-throated fruit with plenty of spicy nuance and phenolic structure. 

The wines from 2024 show a distinct regional charm and a pleasing ripeness to complement the chalky, mineral edge. As always with Toolangi’s ‘grand cru’, the grapes were hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed into barriques (20% new); wild ferment with around a third of the wine going through malo. If this isn’t one of Yarra Valley’s finest Chardonnays, then we don’t know wine. 

“Sourced entirely from the '01-planted, very protected F Block. 100% mlf with no lees stirring. A stunning chardonnay. Aromas of stone fruits, ripe white pear, honeysuckle and grilled cashew together with a little gunflint. This all comes together on the powerful, saline, textured and taut palate. The flavours persists long after you've tasted this, while the acidity is perfectly integrated into the wine, ensuring this will age superbly.”
98 points, Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion
“White nectarine, pastry dough, cinnamon, white flowers, salted pistachios, a little struck match. It’s a rich wine and kind of unctuous, a real melt-in-the-mouth affair, creamy oatmeal with cinnamon, juicy stone fruit and green pear, acidity has a ripe grapefruit character, there’s powdery texture, and it finishes long and saline. Very good wine. A lot of texture and flavour here.”
95 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
Toolangi Vineyard F Block Chardonnay 2024

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Toolangi Vineyard Pauls Lane Pinot Noir 2024

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Toolangi Vineyard Pauls Lane Pinot Noir 2024

Stop the presses. Already an impressive Yarra Pinot, from the 2024 vintage this label has upped the stakes. It is now made from Toolangi’s E Block Pinot Noir, just 10 rows of 25-year-old MV6 clone vines identified as growing the property’s most impressive and expressive Pinot. These rows are a direct continuation of the Paul’s Lane parcel to the east, so Kaspar Hermann is convinced something unique is happening beneath the surface. 

This block delivers lower-than-average yields for this already moderate-yielding site, and the fruit holds markedly more drive and intensity. The fruit fermented with 50% bunches over 15 days before being pressed to used French oak barriques (just one new oak barrel accounts for 10%) for nine months’ maturation. Until 2024, this wine was labelled E Block and cost twice as much. So, here you are getting all the wine at half the price. Philip Rich’s note below captures the wine well; it’s a bright, vivid, juicy, complex, single-vineyard Yarra Pinot from a great season, site and grower. Only 200 bottles made. 

“24-year-old MV6 vines. 50/50% whole berries/whole bunches. A bright crimson. Subtle and complex aromas of forest fruits and hedgerow together with some spice and ferrous notes. Medium bodied, this energetic wine fills out nicely across the palate with ripe, juicy tannins and bright acidity keeping this energetic and fresh.”
95 points, Philip Rich, The Wine Companion
Toolangi Vineyard Pauls Lane Pinot Noir 2024

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“A producer that demonstrates a deep commitment to terroir in producing Australia’s finest and most distinctive wines.” Nick Stock, Good Wine Guide

“Toolangi are pretty darn ace at chardonnay.” Mike Bennie, The Wine Front

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