Hayes Family Wines Estate Shiraz 2023
G 95
From the famous Stone Well sub-region in the Barossa Valley, the vineyard here is certified organic. The final blend comes from a range of blocks and spent 20 months maturing in a mix of new and older French oak. The vines were originally planted back in the late 1940s. Opaque purple in colour, this is powerful and muscular, offering a range of aromas including chocolate, leather, mocha, axle grease and beef stock. Beautifully balanced, the texture is both sleek and supple and there is brilliant length here. Satiny tannins feature at the conclusion. The wine has good concentration and gives some savoury notes as well. If you have the patience, this will easily cellar to advantage for at least two decades. Love it. For me, I’d opt for it, even ahead of the various estate Block Shiraz, but would be very happy with any of them. Drink now–2045 Head Wines The Blonde Shiraz 2023 G 95 An opaque maroon. Mocha, chocolate, mulberries and plums. This is big, bold and plush, dense but dancing. The oak has been deftly handled and there is good intensity, richness and ripeness, which runs the full, very extensive length. Satiny tannins, good energy and fine acidity. To qualify for the Blonde, the grapes must be from overperforming vineyards and ‘have well-defined perfumes, textures and supple tannins’. The Eden Valley is a key contributor, and there is a dribble of
Viognier included. Drink now–2040 Henschke Marble Angel Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
G 95
Medium-deep crimson. Fresh blackberry, mocha aromas with underlying marzipan, roasted walnut notes. Generous and supple with ample blackberry pastille, espresso flavours, fine loose-knit chocolaty/ grainy textures, very good mid-palate viscosity and well balanced roasted almond, roasted walnut notes. Builds up Claret-firm at the finish with bittersweet. chinotto notes. 100% 1970s-planted Marble Angel Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Light Pass). Matured in 10% new and 90% seasoned French oak hogsheads for 20 months. Drink 2027–2040 Hentley Farm The Quintessential Shiraz, Cabernet 2023 G 95 The division here is 51% Shiraz and 49% Cabernet Sauvignon. From the Seppeltsfield Vineyard, maturation is for a year and a half in French oak, 20% of new. This is an exciting wine. A gleaming dense, dark magenta hue, this is a powerful style. On the nose, we have notes of chocolate, mocha, tobacco leaves, leather, blackberries and liquorice. The wine is seamless and seductive with impressive length through to abundant tannins which are firm and powdery. A good line of acidity runs the full length. This is a 15–year proposition. Drink now–2040
South Australia Wine Guide 2026 | Barossa
89
Powered by FlippingBook