Australian winemaker Luke Lambert has been described as “a genius” and “one of the most gifted winemakers in the country.” Based in the relatively cool climate Yarra Valley, Luke takes a minimalist and intuitive approach in the vineyard and the cellar, crafting elegant and soulful wines. His Chardonnay and Syrah are excellent, managing to effortlessly convey their terroir. But it’s Nebbiolo Luke is most passionate about and his focus on the variety has led to widespread acclaim.  

After tasting wines from the top producers in Barolo (Mascarello, Conterno, and Rinaldi), and time spent working in Piedmont, Luke fell in love with Nebbiolo. Many producers have attempted to make Nebbiolo outside of Northern Italy, often without success. Luke, however, produces stunning wines from the grape variety and the 2017 is the best example I’ve tasted outside of Italy.

The wines come from single vineyards where Luke farms organically (uncertified) and hand harvests. The winemaking philosophy is low intervention – wild yeast fermentations without temperature control, hand plunging the cap, long and gentle macerations, and no new oak. These are incredibly pure wines and among our absolute favourites here at Vinified.