Five Oaks specialises in Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot and Riesling wines.

These wines are made in our winery from fruit grown in our vineyard.

Five Oaks has won the following medals at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in London as follows:

2000 Five Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon SGS - Gold Medal in 2002
2001 Five Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon - Silver Medal in 2004
2001 Five Oaks Merlot - Bronze Medal in 2003
2003 Five Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon - Silver Medal in 2005 and Best in Class Yarra Valley
2005 Five Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon SGS - Silver Medal in 2007 and Best in Class Yarra Valley
2005 Five Oaks Merlot - Bronze Medal in 2008
2006 Five Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon - Bronze Medal in 2008
2007 Five Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon - Silver Medal, Sélection Mondiales des Vins, Canada

Our 2007 Cabernet and Cabernet Merlot, which we released in October, are drinking very nicely now and well worth a try.

We plan to release our 2009 Riesling, which was bottled on 11 December 2009, on 1 March 2010. This Riesling is similar to our 2008 Riesling, having crisp acidity softened with a touch of residual sweetness.

RED WINES

2003 FIVE OAKS CABERNET SAUVIGNON
The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon displays dark purple colour. It has floral notes followed by ripe black fruits, pencil shavings, coffee, sweet spice and vanilla on the nose. These carry through to the palate giving a well-rounded mouth feel of concentrated complex flavours. The ripe grape tannins and subtly integrated French oak tannins complement the flavours giving the wine a smooth long finish. We estimate the wine will be at its best between 2008 and 2012. $26

2004 FIVE OAKS CABERNET SAUVIGNON-MERLOT
This Cabernet-Merlot is a 55% Cabernet, 45% Merlot blend. The component wines were matured for 18 and 19 months respectively in a mix of French and American oak barrels before being bottled in early December 2005. The wine is medium-bodied with mainly dark berry fruit and plum aromas and flavours, complemented by some fine spicy oak tannin. This wine will benefit from 4 to 5 years of bottle ageing. $20

2004 FIVE OAKS MERLOT
This is the fourth Merlot to be bottled under our label. Harvested in early May, the fruit was cool-fermented for 14 days in open tank, then matured for 18 months in fine-grained French oak barrels, and bottled on 5 December 2005. This is a lighter-bodied Merlot, displaying red berry with hints of plum and violet aromas and flavours. Fine oak tannins complement the soft palate. Bottle ageing: 4 to 5 years. $24

2004 FIVE OAKS CABERNET SAUVIGNON
The Cabernet fruit was hand-harvested in early May, tank fermented over a two week period, matured for 18 months in French oak barrels and bottled on 6 December 2005. This is a light to medium bodied wine with gentle blackcurrant and blackberry aromas and palate. These are nicely complemented by some subtle French oak and fine, ripe tannins. Typical of our Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine will benefit from 4 to 5 years of bottle ageing and should be at its best between 2008 and 2010. $25

2005 FIVE OAKS SGS CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Silver Medal and "Best in Class Cabernet Sauvignon - Yarra Valley" at the 2007 London International Wine and Spirit Competition and
Blue-Gold Award at the 2008 Sydney International Wine Competition

The 2005 SGS Cabernet Sauvignon was bottled with screw caps on 6 December 2006. It is our second ever "Reserve" Cabernet Sauvignon, the first being the multi-award winning 2000 SGS. The wine is a deep dark purple colour. It has a very fragrant, complex nose of ripe cassis, blackberries and black plums, with some floral, cedar, spice and mocha/coffee touches. These carry through to a concentrated palate. Generous, but soft ripe grape tannins, nicely integrated with elegant French oak tannins, complement the rich flavours giving the wine a well-rounded mouth feel and a smooth very long finish. We estimate that this wine will reach its optimum between 2010 and 2012 but will be enjoyable for at least 5 to 10 years beyond that. $45

2005 CABERNET SAUVIGNON-MERLOT
The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot was bottled with screw caps on 6 December 2006 and is an 86.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.9% Merlot blend. The wine is deep dark purple in colour. It has an aromatic nose, exuding blackcurrants and spicy plum, with a hint of allspice, black pepper and nuances of cedar, cigar box and coffee. The palate has a soft velvety mouth feel. The grape tannins, well integrated with elegant French and American oak tannins, and a 14% alcohol level complement this and give the wine a smooth long finish. Should be at optimum drinking between 2010 and 2012. $30

2005 FIVE OAKS MERLOT
The 2005 Merlot was bottled with screw caps on 6 December 2006, “rested” for a year post bottling and released in early December 2007. The wine is opaque with a deep dark purple colour. It has intense ripe dark berry fruit, dark plum and spice aromas and flavours with hints of chocolate and savoury/earthy characters. Spicy American oak and fine tannins combine with the fruit flavours to give a rich, soft palate and long velvety finish. We estimate this wine will be at its best between 2012 and 2014. $30

2006 FIVE OAKS CABERNET SAUVIGNON
The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon was bottled on 18 December 2007 and only released in early October 2008. This Cabernet is very similar to the 2005 SGS Cabernet Sauvignon, showing the same deep dark purple colour. It has a complex fragrant dark fruit nose of ripe blackcurrants, blackberries and black plums, with some floral, spice and mocha/coffee touches. These aromas are reflected in the concentrated palate. The rich flavours are well complemented by generous, yet soft ripe grape tannins that integrate nicely with elegant French oak tannins, giving the wine a well-rounded long finish. We estimate that this wine will reach optimum drinking around 2012. $35

2007 FIVE OAKS CABERNET SAUVIGNON
The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon was bottled on 28 November 2008 and released on 10 October 2009. The wine is deep purple in colour. It has a complex fragrant dark fruit nose of ripe blackcurrants, blackberries and black plums, with hints of spice, which is replicated on the concentrated palate. Fine-grained grape tannins balance the rich flavours and seamlessly integrated elegant French oak tannins, giving the wine a smooth long finish. This wine should reach optimum drinking between 2011 and 2013 but with careful cellaring will drink well for much longer. $35

2007 FIVE OAKS CABERNET SAUVIGNON MERLOT
The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot is a 50:50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It was bottled on 28 November 2008 and released at Cellar Door on 10 October 2009. The wine has a deep purple colour. Like the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a fragrant aroma and concentrated complex palate of ripe blackcurrant and blackberry with some spice and earthen hints. The fine grape tannins and elegant French and American oak tannins counterpoint the rich fruit flavours, giving the wine a balanced lingering finish. We estimate that the optimum drinking plateau for this wine will be somewhere between 2011 and 2013. $30/bottle


WHITE WINES

2009 FIVE OAKS RIESLING
The 2009 Riesling was bottled on 11 December 2009. It is very similar in style but a bit drier than our 2008 Riesling, with about 1.5 grams per litre of residual sugar left to balance the natural acidity. It is pale lemon in colour with hints of green at the edges. It displays primarily citrus aromas and palate complemented by some apple blossom and floral characters. The wine's crisp acidity will ensure excellent ageing potential for those who prefer aged Rieslings. $18

2008 FIVE OAKS CHARDONNAY
After a four year “break” we have again produced a Chardonnay! Our 2008 Chardonnay was bottled on 28 November 2008. It is pale yellow in colour and displays primarily peach and ripe honeydew melon aromas and flavours with some hints of butterscotch accompanied by some subtle oak. The full flavoured fruit driven palate is balanced by good acid structure and has a lingering finish. This is a crisper style of Chardonnay with terrific ageing potential. $20

Where can I buy Five Oaks wines?

At present, you can buy Five Oaks Wines from the Cellar Door, Mail Order (click here for our form), selected restaurants, hotels and bottle shops in the Yarra Valley and Melbourne.