2024 Vignerons Schmolzer & Brown Barbera

Vignerons Schmölzer & Brown is the partnership of winemaker-viticulturist Tessa Brown and architect Jeremy Schmölzer, crafting wines from high-altitude vineyards in Beechworth and the King Valley. Their estate vineyard, Thorley, sits over 700m ASL and is farmed with organic practices in all but the most challenging years. Working with minimal intervention, they focus on purity, balance, and drinkability. The range includes single-site wines from Thorley, Brunnen, and Obstgarten, as well as their approachable Prêt-à series.

Sourced from the Corsini family’s La Cantina vineyard in the King Valley, this Barbera was destemmed, crushed, and fermented on skins for two weeks before basket pressing. Malolactic fermentation took place in tank or seasoned puncheon, followed by two rackings before bottling. Deep magenta in colour, it bursts with berried fragrance and bright, juicy flavours—best served chilled for an hour to enhance its vibrant charm.

Other Reviews....
The folks at Schmölzer & Brown say that they have “very little impact on this wine’s violent fruit expression”. As in, it’s all there and there’s no stopping it. They also describe this wine as “our chilled red”, which it absolutely could be, though it also of course drinks very nicely at room temperature. It’s awash with red and blue berries, florals, twiggy spices and cool, mountain herb notes. Basically it’s crunchy, spicy, fruity and flamboyant, in the most drinkable or smashable of ways. This is great drinking right now. Drink 2024 - 2028.
93 Points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

From the Corsini family’s La Cantina vineyard in the King Valley. This is VS&B’s self-proclaimed chilled red. A little rubbery reduction on opening before this wine’s trademark aromas of cherry ripe and cherry pip followed by red florals, rhubarb and baking spices. Some air unveils subtle boysenberry and earthen notes, too. The palate is equally bright and playful, with bursts of red cherry, red apple, boysenberry, and blueberry framed by fine pithy tannins and juicy acidity. Chillable, yes, but delicious at room temperature. This has all the pop and crunch you need, with lovely bright fruit and ample spice complexity adding interest.
93 Points
Tom Kline - WinePilot.com