Jeremy Oliver, The Australian Wine Annual: 92
"An elegant, finely balanced blend whose faintly violetlike bouquet of blackcurrant, raspberry and redcurrant compote is handsomely backed by fresh cedar/vanilla oak and a hint of mineral. It’s smooth and polished, with intense flavours of cassis, dark plums and mulberries extending over a firmish, powdery spine towards a fresh, tightly focused finish that entirely avoids the greenish notes seen so often in reds from this vintage."


Wine Genius: 89 points
"An admirable effort from a tough vintage it shows deep colour, subtle aromatics of leaf and mulberry with herbal oak. Acid driven yet well-proportioned it is a very elegant example under this label with softer tannins suggesting an early drinking style. Drink: 2014 - 2019."

Huon Hooke: 93
4.5 stars - "Deep red/purple colour. The aroma is fruit driven and cherry-like, with a suggestion of mint and herbs plus attractive raspberry notes. It's full-bodied and dense, well structured, slightly chewy and deeply flavoured. Lively and very long on the palate. Drink 2018 to 2038."

Mike Bennie, The Wine Front: 94
"You kind of forget the details, but according to the back label it's been 40 years since the first release of FDR1A - I figured it was a more recent incantation of Yalumba cabernet/shiraz. It's from Eden Valley as is its motif, and set to Fine Dry Red mode.
It's a leaner, lighter, tighter wine that other FDR wines before it, but suffers in a positive kind of way for its restraint. Aromas are spicy, peppery, just-ripe black berry fruit, flecked with stalks and pips and grape skin. It's tense in the mouth, tubular and energetic with dark fruit, leather, earth and a tight, crisp finish that builds to a gentle pucker. Feels architectural, set to the Brutalist, then light on; but you admire and enjoy and watch it soften. I like this release."

Tyson Stelzer: 96 (2008)
Yalumba's take on The Great Australian Red is distinctive for its cabernet focus, making its wines brighter, more floral and more elegant. A more determined structure makes them particularly age-worthy, too. Buy the 2008 now and look out for the 2010 in future.
Best Drinking: 2018-2026

The Australian Review:
Yalumba FDR1A (2010)
Yalumba is highly skilled at the cabernet shiraz blend with the fine dry red a standout for value. Leafy cassis and blackberry fruit are well matched with sweet oak and firm but well-integrated tannins, all finishing long and strong. A wine with a long future.


This wine displays a colour of medium dense crimson reds. The 2010 exhibits bright and perfumed floral aromatics of violets and sweet red cherries, combined with anise, fresh spices, cedar and stalky red-currants.On the palate this wine is medium to full bodied, this is a fine and elegant wine layered with sweet cherry and mulberry fruits, a seamless and plushly textured palate, that is completed with long, fine powdery tannins.