Lyon’s Will is a wife and husband team of Oliver Rapson and Renata Morello, with Renata being responsible for this release. 2023 will go down as being the latest pick on record. I leave it to Renata and Oliver to describe the winemaking: “Our seventh vintage from these vines (planted in 2013). Handpicked at the end of April 2023. 50% of the fruit underwent semi-carbonic maceration (100% whole bunch). The remaining fruit was destemmed and placed in open vats, prior to wild fermentation. The fruit saw a total of four weeks on skins. The fruit was then pressed and transferred into old French oak to mature before being blended. This wine is unfiltered and unfined.”

Lyon’s Will Estate, Gamay, Macedon Ranges, 2023

Medium cerise to garnet with a touch of turbidity. Lifted cherry and baked blueberry, rosewood, cinnamon quill, meaty salumi, ash and green peppercorn.  Just medium bodied. Sapid with bittersweet cherry fruit having that slight confectionary carbonic lift. Punctuated with whole bunch spice and a tight, bright finish. A little betwixt and between up front fresh drinking ‘nouveau’ and the spice and structure of ‘village’ styles, but it works well.

RRP: $47
Alc: 11.5%
Rating: 91/100

Wine sample courtesy of Lyon’s Will Estate