Description
By Farr is the brand of the Farr Family, started in 1994 by Robyn and Gary on a north facing slope in the township of Bannockburn in the Moorabool Valley.
The Original wines where Chardonnay by Farr, Viognier by Farr, Shiraz by Farr and Pinot Noir by Farr now known as Sangreal by Farr.
Overtime with the help of Cassie and Nick the vineyards have expand to adjoining neighbouring properties and eventually greater expression of the single site wines that we have today because of the pieces of dirt that we love to farm.
The wines of By Farr are built around complexity, layered structure and undeniable length that places them in the highest regard by both consumers for their drinkability and age worthiness or critics around the world for their individuality.
The Farr estate is located in the Moorabool Valley between Geelong and Ballarat, 100km southwest of Melbourne.
Gary and Robyn Farr purchased the original property in 1994 and the second section in 1998—this latter had been untouched for almost 40 years and consisted of dense boxthorn and noxious weeds.
The final piece of the puzzle, which links the two blocks of land, was purchased by Nick and Cassie Farr in 2011, making a total of 130 acres.
Nick and Gary Farr stand side by side, but aren’t afraid to go head-to-head when their opinions differ.
Each generation has developed a distinctive winemaking style based on his individual experience and taste, and their respective lines – By Farr by Gary, and Farr Rising by Nick – have received critical acclaim both in Australia and overseas.
Tout Pres was planted in 2001 and is a very special and intriguing site.
It rises above the other vineyards, and each of the three slopes consists of a different soil type.
The largest slope is black volcanic soil over limestone; the second is quartz gravel mixed with red ironstone; the third is an iron strand in grey sandy loam.
The clones, which will acclimatise and mutate over time to become the ‘Tout Pres clone’, are 113, 114, 115, 667, 777 and MV6.
With 7300 vines per ha, Tout Pres is a densely planted vineyard on the estate—hence its name, which translates as “very cosy”.
This land is a challenge to farm, but well worth the effort.
The soils and close competition force the vines to work hard, with the result being fruit that is lush but masculine, and which provides the coveted structure found only in the most age-worthy wines.
Tout Pres is made using the same process as the other two pinots.
It is fermented with 100 per cent whole bunches (80 per cent in 2011) in a five-tonne oak fermenter.
This wine has the largest flavour profile and intensity, to absorb 100 per cent new French oak from Allier.
A wine with truly understated power and richness—the classic peacock’s tail.
My daughter asked me what Tout Pres meant this morning.
I said it means close.
Close but Farr she replied as though she discovered a hidden meaning.
Kind of, I smiled.
In the glass a big hit of amaro like dark fruit and stemmy spice, a real dark shade of cherry and char.
The lift comes from the acidity and stems and it works as a counterpoint to the fruit.
It’s savoury and layered, shifting from beguiling and seductive to edgy and angsty.
Gunsmoke, maybe Russian caravan tea, albeit a subtle version or a memory of it, dry earth, charred wood, cornichon, black bean and mushroom.
You can almost taste the struggle of these tightly packed little vines that overlook the moorabool valley.
As your olfactory bits acclimatize, the second sniff is all fruit and something like ginger; sweet but with purpose.
Warm spices like mace and cardamom dominate and rhubarb, cherry and chinotto round it out.
I drink lots of wine in my day job, and perhaps my years are making me jaded, but this type of expression, this individual and importantly, replicative level of complexity is unmatched.
– Ben Knight (For Nick Farr).
The Finer Details Style – Red Wine Varietal – Pinot Noir Country – Australia Region – Geelong, Victoria Vintage – 2021 Bottle Size – 750ml ABV – 13.5%
