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Toolangi Vineyard

The Yarra Valley’s Best Kept Secret?

This long-established, yet relatively undiscovered Dixon’s Creek gem has entered a new and exciting chapter and are well on their way to receiving the accolades and recognition a site and team of this calibre deserve. The fruit and wines from this respected vineyard have always been highly respected and sought after, and in the past, the winemaking was outsourced to a gamut of respected and talented Australian winemakers, including Rick Kinzbrunner of Giaconda. 

Back in 2017 Helmut Konecsny, the owner of Rochford Wines, purchased Toolangi Vineyard and immediately started ringing in the changes. Under this new, hands-on ownership and with talented young winemaker Kaspar Hermann at the helm, Toolangi have the wind in their sails. In Hermann, the Toolangi vineyard has found its winemaking Prince Charming. In addition to Mount Mary, where he worked as assistant winemaker for eight years before joining Toolangi. Hermann’s CV includes stints at Seville Estate, Coldstream Hills and Punch. Working alongside Hermann is John Evans, an experienced viticulturist with over two decades experience in the Yarra Valley.  

Although Toolangi is a vineyard and label steeped in of history the region, in recent years new ownership and confident viticultural and winemaking changes have breathed new life into this Yarra Valley gem.

Together, the pair’s chief goal is to bring the vineyard back to the heart of the Toolangi story, with the focus on rejuvenating and upgrading the work in the vines. This was, after all, one of only two Yarra producers to engage the services of renowned soil scientist Claude Bourguignon, when Bibendum Wine Co. brought him out to Australia in 2018. Bourguignon’s recommendations have already begun to be implemented, including the transition to under vine cultivation and the reduction of inputs in the vineyard… And the work continues.

Hermann is steering the winemaking towards a less worked style, ensuring further purity, finesse, structure and elegance. It didn’t take this talented craftsman long to develop a distinctive and cohesive identity as compared to those of Toolangi 1.0, which, as mentioned, was the product of a roster of external (if very talented) winemakers. In the vines, Evans presides over some prime Yarra Valley real estate. First planted in 1995, the Toolangi now boasts 11.2 hectares under vine. An ideally situated vineyard, located right next to the Toolangi State Forest—its well-drained, gentle slopes and a coveted north-east orientation only begin to tell the story of this appealing, unique and characterful vineyard.  

When Helmut Konecsny arrived in 2017, the original plan was to condense the range into just two tiers of wine—the Toolangi and Toolangi Paul’s Lane labels. But the vineyard had other ideas—in searching to revive the unique DNA of this site, the team quickly realised the individual personalities and quality coming from the vineyards’ exiting Block parcels was simply too great to pass up. These ‘Block’ wines are produced from the most privileged, low-yielding parcels of Dixon’s Creek vineyard. In particular, the F-Block Chardonnay is cropped from the vineyard’s highest and coolest area, abutting the Toolangi State Forest. The soils here are relatively shallow and rockier, resulting in low yields of intensely flavoured, bright and finely structured fruit. We’ve tasted many a Puligny of lessor quality. And so it goes with the E Block Pinot Noir sourced from two rows of 18-year-old MV6 vines. 

What a difference just a few years can make. Taking nothing away from Toolangi’s fine history, the triple whammy of new ownership, full control of winemaking and the introduction of a talented new winemaker has breathed new life into this already fabulous grower. If you do not know the wines, we strongly suggest you take a look. 

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Toolangi Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023

Toolangi Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023

Kaspar Hermann has now been at the Toolangi helm for six years. Under Hermann’s site-first approach—allowing the place and vintage to dictate the result rather than forcing a particular style—the true character and quality of Toolangi’s vineyard are starting to reveal themselves. At Toolangi, 2023 was another in a string of low-yielding vintages. Thankfully, the lack in quantity was more than recouped in quality, and the wines are marked by vibrancy, pure flavours and textural finesse. Drawn from 20+-year-old vines, the estate Pinot Noir was handpicked over two days in the third week of March. The fruit was partially destemmed and fermented as whole berries, with a small portion of whole bunches included (10%). After 14 days, the wine was pressed to oak (10% new) for nine months’ maturation.We don’t need to tell you about Kaspar Hermann’s serious winemaking chops. And we really don’t need to tell you how much bang for your buck you get from this diligently farmed single-vineyard bottling. This release says it all.

“All estate fruit with a small portion of whole bunches (5%) and 10 months in French puncheons and barriques (5% new). A very bright crimson. Leaps out of the glass with its aromas of strawberries, cranberries, blackcurrant pastilles and some spice. Juicy-fruited, quaffable and still attractively priced.”
91 points, Philip Rich, The Wine Companion
“Juicy raspberry and cherry a bit of spice, a little floral too. It’s medium-bodied, bright red fruit flavour, the stony feel of the tannin is maybe unexpected, but altogether pleasing, and while it’s maybe ever so slightly breathy, it does deliver plenty of gently sappy Pinot satisfaction, along with solid length.”
91 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
Toolangi Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023
Toolangi Vineyard Chardonnay 2022

Toolangi Vineyard Chardonnay 2022

Established in 1995, Toolangi Vineyard is in the Dixons Creek subregion of the Yarra Valley, adjoining the Toolangi State Forest. This low-cropping vineyard is planted to the Gingin, Mendoza and I10V3 clones and sits on fine clay loam. Year after year, it produces wines with a distinctive personality and strong sense of place. At Toolangi, 2022 will be remembered for two things: the tiniest yields in a decade (resulting from poor flowering) and outstanding wines. The Chardonnay was picked by hand on 4th March and whole bunch-pressed directly to French oak barriques and puncheons (10% new). The wine rested for 10 months before being bottled. The result is a layered wine of concentration and finesse, punching well above its weight when considering the price. 

Toolangi Vineyard Chardonnay 2022
Toolangi Vineyard Chardonnay 2021

Toolangi Vineyard Chardonnay 2021

Established in 1995, Toolangi Vineyard is in the Dixons Creek subregion of the Yarra Valley, adjoining the Toolangi State Forest. This single site vineyard on fine clay loam produces wines with distinctive personalities, each wine showing a strong sense of place. Fruit was hand-picked between the 21st and 23rd of March. 2021 was a welcome return to ideal growing conditions in the Yarra Valley. It was a prolonged and classical season which allowed for long hang times and excellent flavour development.The fruit was whole bunch pressed directly to French oak barriques, puncheons, a foudre (10% new) and a ceramic egg for primary fermentation. Just 10% of the blend underwent malolactic conversion and there was no battonage. The wine rested for 10 months before being bottled. A wonderful release, flush with Yarra Valley freshness, lovely citrus and white fruits, just a bare touch of reduction and lots of chalky freshness. The intensity of flavour is matched to steely acidity and a pure and focused mouthfeel. The 2021 is punching well above its weight.

A wonderful release, flush with Yarra Valley freshness, lovely citrus and white fruits, just a bare touch of reduction and lots of chalky freshness. The intensity of flavour is matched to steely acidity and a pure and focused mouthfeel. The 2021 is punching well above its weight.

“This is a dry, structural chardonnay with everything there and waiting to unfold. If you have a bit of patience then at $30 it’s a bit of a steal; but only with that proviso. Flint, steel, citrus and nectarine flavours gradually work toward white peach, chalk and cedarwood. It’s both inherently complex and inherently reserved. Give it another 12-24 months in bottle and it will begin to shine.”
92 points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
"Pale lemon in the glass with white peach and smoky struck flint notes on the nose. Medium in weight with a fine-boned acid profile that meshes well with ripe stone fruits, crushed sea shells, and smoky oak nuances. Good length and persistence to the finish. A quality chardonnay at this price"
92 points, Stuart Knox, The Real Review
Toolangi Vineyard Chardonnay 2021
Toolangi Vineyard Chardonnay 2023

Toolangi Vineyard Chardonnay 2023

Toolangi Vineyard, buried deep in the Yarra Valley on the outskirts of the Toolangi State Forest, was established in 1995 and has, over the years, established itself as one of the Valley’s most well-regarded sites. It’s planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz and is best known for producing premium, quintessential Yarra Valley Chardonnay from low-yielding clones of Gingin, Mendoza and I10V3. The vines are 22 years old on average and sit in fine clay loam soils. The 2023 season will go down as one of the best in recent memory for Yarra Chardonnay. Though conditions were tough at times, winemaker Kaspar Hermann told us the season played out as “mild and kind” and produced whites of vibrancy and finesse. Hear, hear! The fruit was destemmed and pressed to French oak (10% new) for fermentation on lees. The wine then matured in wood for nine months. As is always the case, this punches well above its weight.  

“The acidity here is not just a structural element; it’s a conveyor of flavour. This is a very tidy chardonnay, good now and likely to be better again in the future. It tastes of grapefruit, pears, nectarines and cedar, with a faintly flinty, salty, chalky aspect to the finish. Texturally there’s the merest whisper of cream but essentially this rollicks along in juicy fashion.”
93 points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
Toolangi Vineyard Chardonnay 2023
Toolangi Vineyard Pinot Noir 2024

Toolangi Vineyard Pinot Noir 2024

Kaspar Hermann is coming up on seven years at the helm of Toolangi Vineyard. Under his site-first approach–allowing the place and vintage to dictate the result rather than forcing a particular style—the true character and quality of Toolangi’s vineyard are revealing themselves, with impressive results. After a string of cool years in the Yarra, 2024 delivered a mild, uneventful spring and sunny and warm conditions at harvest. According to Hermann, it’s a season marked by big flavour and attractive regional charm–the proof is in the pudding; this is as good as we’ve seen this wine. Drawn from 22-year-old vines, the fruit was picked over two days in the third week of March. It was partially destemmed and fermented as whole berries, with a small portion of bunches included (10%). After 14 days, the wine was pressed to oak (10% new) for nine months’ maturation. As has come to be expected from this single-vineyard bottling, it’s vibrant and pure-fruited with textural finesse and plenty of bang for your buck.

“A juicy red cherry and raspberry affair, some mulch and cinnamon, with a bit of aniseed and rose perfume. It’s medium-bodied, a bit sappy and mushroomy in flavour, some blood orange tang, a light peppery grip to tannin, with a finish of solid length. Definitely has some pepper and herb character, and something of a poached strawberry sweetness. All that being said, the wine presents well enough, albeit kind of Campari-laced and tangy. It’s interesting and drinks well enough.”
90 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
Toolangi Vineyard Pinot Noir 2024
Toolangi Vineyard Shiraz 2022

Toolangi Vineyard Shiraz 2022

Kaspar Hermann’s reputation is built on the back of Chardonnay―Toolangi’s F Block is one of the Yarra Valley’s finest examples―but the ex-Mount Mary man’s skills extend far beyond that. Since taking the helm at Toolangi Vineyard a few years back, he has honed his Shiraz skills, taking the top-notch fruit grown in the forest-hugging Dixons Creek site and transforming it into evocative, sinewy, seductively perfumed cool-climate Shiraz—at a killer price, too. Established in 1995, Toolangi Vineyard is one of the Yarra Valley’s best-kept secrets. It’s a naturally low-yielding site, with 11 hectares of vines nestled in the lee of the Toolangi State Forest. The Shiraz vines are all PT23 clone and planted across two blocks. Fruit for the 2022 was picked over two passes in mid-March. It fermented with 40% bunches, with the remainder destemmed but left as berries. After three weeks, the wine was pressed to seasoned barriques for 11 months’ maturation. Though low-yielding, 2022 was a terrific season in the Yarra Valley, with impeccable fruit delivering wines of concentration and finesse.

“Here’s a nice glass of Shiraz. It’s dry and spicy, quite meaty, and offers a pleasing mix of red and black fruits, firmish peppery tannin, balanced acidity, with dusty tannin grip on a finish of good length. It’s only medium-bodied, and delivers a good serve of spicy Yarra Shiraz flavour.”
92 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
Toolangi Vineyard Shiraz 2022
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AT-A-GLANCE

• This single-vineyard estate was first planted in 1995 in Dixons Creek in the Yarra Valley.

• Sheltered by the Toolangi state forest on one side, the 11.2 hectares of vines sit on well-drained, gentle slopes with a coveted northeast orientation.

• Historically, winemaking was outsourced to prominent winemakers such as Rick Kinzbrunner, Franco D'Anna and David Bicknell.

• Under new ownership since 2017, talented winemaker Kaspar Hermann has taken the singularity and distinction of the site to new heights.

• Hermann is superbly supported by viticulturist John Evans, who has spent over two decades in the Yarra Valley.

• The site features fine silty clay loam topsoil, with richer clay silts beneath, giving good balance between vine vigour and fruitfulness.

• The team shoot-thins to improve airflow through the canopy and optimise ripening, minimises spraying to foster the natural ecosystem, and mulches under-vine to maintain soil biodiversity.

• Toolangi Vineyard bottles estate and single-block iterations of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and spicy Yarra Shiraz.



IN THE PRESS

“Located in the northern Yarra Valley region of Dixons Creek, Toolangi Vineyards is a special site for growing grapes. Sheltered by the Toolangi state forest on one side, the vines are positioned on undulating slopes and the block design follows the natural curve of the land. Planted in 1995, with additional plantings in 2001, the site produces premium Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz. Toolangi vineyards operates on the principals of sustainable and holistic viticulture so the wines capture the spirit of this special vineyard and reflect each season.”
★★★★★ Halliday Wine Companion

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

Country

Australia

Primary Region

Yarra Valley, Victoria

People

Winemaker: Kaspar Hermann

Availability

National

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