Alex Byrne; The Evolution

An Exploration of cool-climate regions in Victoria is what drives the Alex Byrne. with a focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Alex searches out exceptional sites for his single-vineyard wines, with each vintage showcasing his evolution as a winemaker.

 

 

 

What started as a side project in 2010 when Alex was introduced to the Myola Vineyard in Ballarat by his mate Owen Latta, has evolved 8 years later into a label producing wines from a range of Victorian regions. Alex's idiosyncratic labels with his first wines truly helped him to stand out and create a brand that became etched in his consumers minds.

                  

 

Vintage 2016 saw Alex take a huge leap, leaving the comfort of a paying job at Lethbridge in Geelong to focus on his own projects full-time; Byrne Wines, Liquid Rock'n Roll, and Noisy Ritual. This vintage also saw the expansion of the Byrne Wines range from a single Chardonnay and Pinot, to a range of Pinot, Chardonnay, and Shiraz from some of Victorias best vineyards, including: Doug's Vineyard in Romsey, Macedon, and fruit from a fantastic Vineyard in Merricks, Mornington Peninsula which Phillipa Farr gave him access to. Alex always makes his wines in the same manner to showcase the influence of the site and the vintage more than anything else. 

As we now release the 2017 wines, including; Pinot Noir's from the Ray-Monde Deux Vineyard in Sunbury, and the Strathmore Vineyard in Geelong, alongside his 8th vintage of wines from the Myola Vineyard in Ballarat, Alex has rebranded across the range with a new cleaner look, not getting rid completely of the textured labels, rather saving them for some reserve releases yet to come.

 

 

         Myola Vineyard

 New Releases

2017 Sutherlands Creek Pinot Noir, Geelong Vic

Comes from the Strathmore vineyard in the Moorabool valley.  Old Dijon clones planted 35 years ago, high density close planting 1m x 1m with trellising low to the ground and low fruit yields per vine.  Great example of a cool vintage in the Moorabool valley in a mature and dense canopy vineyard.  Bright red and dark berry fruit with firm acid and tannin providing length and complexity.  Tannin structure an indication of the deep limestone-spattered soils in the Moorabool valley.
About 30% whole bunches and 20% new French oak.

 

2017 Gisborne Pinot Noir, Sunbury Vic

 

From the Ray-Monde Deux vineyard, which is composed of volcanic basalt soil, and planted to the uncommon D5V12 clone of Pinot which presents quite dark fruit and spice. The vineyard is at 470m so it has a long, slow ripening season and was picked at low baume (12.5% alc) but has plenty of flavour density from the combination of cool vintage, rich soil and high altitude.
The wine was made with 30% whole bunches in the open fermenter and gentle plunging over 15 days before being foot stomped towards the end to extract the final sugar and encourage glycerol production for a silky texture.  Wild fermented and wild MLF in French oak (20% new).