Two Organic Yalumba Wines

Two organic wines from Australia's Yalumba

Yalumba is based in Australia's Barossa Valley; it was founded in 1849 and remains a sixth-generation family-run company with a strong focus on sustainability.

Yalumba was one of the first major Australian wineries to put organic wine on the market back in 2006. Minimal intervention winemaking is a natural fit for sustainable practices and Yalumba is committed to making as little impact on the natural environment as possible during the winemaking process, from the vineyard to the cellar. For every hectare of vineyard Yalumba owns, they dedicate at least one hectare to native vegetation.

Their teams are continuously trialling new ways to reduce their water consumption and lessen their impact on the environment. In recognition of their efforts, Yalumba has been awarded 43 accolades globally for sustainable practices, including sustainable wine growing.

The Sauvignon Blanc is zesty and somewhat kiwi in style; the Cab-Merlot is ripe and fruit-forward, but with good underpinnings. Both wines are clean and pure with a deft muscularity.

Yalumba Organic Sauvignon Blanc, 2019 (The Co-op, £10) organically grown grapes from the Carypidis Family vineyard located in Virginia, on the outskirts of Adelaide.

Aromatic and expressive with exotic fruits, lemongrass, white-pepper spice and toastiness; juicy tropical fruits, cut through with citrus, fennel and herbaceous celery leaf. Full, supple and long; very well made.

Good.

Match with salt and lemon pepper squid, stuffed courgettes with ricotta and lemon zest, or with a rich creamy cheese or a pesto pasta. 

Yalumba Organic Cabernet Merlot, 2019 (£10, Tesco) fermented with 100% wild yeast with grapes from four family-owned, organically certified vineyards located throughout South Australia. 

Ripe cassis, black fruits and red-berry compote with blackcurrant leaf, liquorice and herbaceous, minty fennel and spice. Supple and long with very fine, well-integrated tannins. Vibrant and juicy with lots of ripe up-front fruit initially; with extended aeration, the more complex underpinnings become apparent. Harmonious, adept and well-made.

Good.

Match with red meats, especially rosemary and garlic lamb or bbq burgers.

Wine Pages' Tom Cannavan reviews the Cab-Merlot here: Review of two organic wines, both priced at £10 in UK supermarkets - YouTube