New – Healsville No.7 – Featuring ‘Tilly J’ Pinot Noir – 2019

No.7 Healsville is an exciting new destination and business venture conceptualized and sponsored by family behind the Meletos / Stones of the Yarra Valley enterprises.

No. 7 is a magnificently re-purposed warehouse at 7 Lilydale Road – Healsville. Now tastefully featuring European style exposed brick and reclaimed multi pane arch windows on the interior, this new space is instantly inviting. Due to the tastefully distressed features, it feels as if it has been here forever, however the interior was only completed in 2019.

The impressive new space boasts a state of the art communal winery, restaurant / café and event space. It is dedicated to giving the next generation of Yarra Yalley winemakers the facilities and technical ‘kit’ they need to help in their quest to make beautiful Yarra Valley wine.

Notably the first such program of its kind in Australia; Damian North (Journey Wines), and Behn Payten (Payten & Jones, Four Pillars), have been chosen to oversee and guide those on the Healsville No.7  Young Winemakers Program.

The previous nondescript concrete car park at No.7 has only just been converted to a European style courtyard and outdoor dining space – complete with long tables, mature olive trees, shade umbrellas and 2 huge industrial fans – to breathe some sweet relief on the warm days ahead.

Once on the lonely edge of the industrial estate, at the western end of the township, Lilydale Road is now a rockin’ little precinct; featuring now world famous Four Pillars Gin Distillery, the idiosyncratic Paynton & Jones Cellar Door, and now No.7. You could easily spend the best part of a lazy day in Lilydale Road – as long as someone else was doing the driving.

Perhaps you could start with a comprehensive tasting at Paynten & Jones, followed by a cheeky glass of their delicious Sangiovese? Pop next door to No.7 for a coffee and cake of your choice – and make a lunch reservation. Now it’s off over the road to Four Pillars, for an informative and fun filled bench tasting. The formalities now out of the way – it’s time for a refreshing G&T, or my partiality, a lovingly constructed Negroni.

Ah Negroni…..

Well that was fun! Now it’s time for lunch – back over the road to No.7. The staff is welcoming and professional.

Chef Joel Bowers provides a concise menu of tasty morsels, including duck neck sausage at the moment. Tapas are / is also a feature of the casual dining style here. Importantly, the coffee is excellent, which is almost always the case when I visit Meletos (St Huberts Road Colstream), or No.7.Healsville.

You will find featured at No.7, a growing selection of wines produced by young Yarra Valley of talented budding winemakers, sponsored by Meletos for the inaugural 2019 Young Winemakers Program.

Tilly J (the person), spent some time at the wonderful Giant Steps winery – under the tutelage of the hugely talented and equally self effacing chief winemaker Steve Flamsteed. Steve has mentored Tilly through her first vintage of ‘Tilly J” Pinot Noir. 2 tonnes of fruit was sourced from Helen’s Hill Winery, Coldstream, Yarra Valley.

As a generous kick start to sales, No.7 buys half of the wine produced by those in the Young Winemakers Program – and features the wine at their venue.

 Tasting Note.

Tilly J Pinot Noir – Yarra Valley – 2019.

Vibrant and youthful mid purple colour. Raspberry and assorted red fruits waft up the nostrils. The taste is most evidently fruit driven, with red fruits to the fore – lovely fresh acidity and mild tannins. Medium bodied with a medium finish.

This is a modern style of fun Yarra Valley Pinot Noir. Not made to be overly complex, it is all about juicy generosity and instant gratification.

Drinking well now – I enjoyed my glass of Tilly J at No 7. Healsville very much. I believe this wine will be even better in 2-3 months when it has settled in the bottle, and will drink well over the next 3-4 years.

Recommended Retail Price is $36 per bottle.

No. 7 Healsville is selling this lovely wine for $30 per bottle while it is still featured.

I am delighted that we will be able to offer a visit to No 7. Healsville as another option for our Perfect Day Tours customers. It is also gratifying to support the new wave of Yarra Valley winemakers by visiting No.7, and furthermore having an opportunity to taste and buy the wines.

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