Rouleur's 2025 Sauvignon Blanc Fumé is a restrained, textural expression from a single mature vineyard at Kangaroo Ground on the western edge of the Yarra Valley. Rather than leaning into overt tropical fruit, whole-bunch pressing and fermentation in older barriques bring barrel-ferment character and depth, while lees work and fine, bright acidity keep its richness in balance.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Preserved lemon and gooseberry, with subtle barrel-ferment character.
Palate: Rich and textural yet balanced by fine, bright acidity, with paw paw, melon and quince.
Finish: Fine, bright acidity gives the wine a fresh, balanced close.
Winemaking
The fruit was 100% whole-bunch pressed, with the juice fermented in older 225L barriques. Fermentation began wild before being overseeded to ensure a clean, dry finish. Selected barrels underwent bâtonnage to build texture and complexity against the wine's bright natural acidity. Some barrels were racked off gross lees during winter, while others remained on lees until bottling in August 2025.
Matt East, Winemaker: “A lovely wine this one. And we didn’t make much either. 40 dozen only!”
Reviews
"From a single vineyard in Kangaroo Ground, barrel fermented and matured in hogsheads and barriques. A very bright green gold. Expressive aromas of stone fruits, quince and lemon drops, with the oak sitting very discreetly in the background. The palate is chalky and persistent with a fine thread of acidity giving it backbone and length. More long-lived than the very good '24, this will age beautifully over the next three to five years."
95+ Points - Philip Rich, Halliday's Wine Companion, 24 March 2026
