Hungerford Hill Heavy Metal

Not great

Unscrewed and sat in the bottle for 30 mins before drinking, then finished over the next 2 hours. Dark purple in the glass, with a initially shy but later showing nose of dark fruit, currants, cassis, vanilla and sweet spices. On the palate, it was well structured, with the Shiraz and CS integrating well. Still reasonably tannic and slightly jammy and oak-driven, but in a good way. Finish was medium. There was a distinct sense of a well-built frame in …

This is Velvet Glove Wine Thuggery of high class order! The bold, ripened carefully select fruit of McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Hunter & Barossa (45%/32%/13%/10%) burst out the glass in a heady mix of fruit, oak and alcohol. The Cab Sauv (32%) provides a fine frame of wild blackcurrant, with the multi-region blend of Shiraz (68%) providing bright, fresh blackberries and blueberries. The oak, adding layers of mocha, lightly salted meat, violets and lashings of creamy vanillan oak. A creamy, dry, …

This is all about balance and drinkability. As this Aussie multi-region Shiraz (68%) and Cab Sauv (32%) blend combines the best of the McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Hunter Valley and Barossa Valley wrapped in a medium-bodied wine of 13.5% ABV. Halliday extolled a huge 97. There's plums, blackberries, blueberries, mocha, liquorice, salted charcuterie, violets, vanilla and sweet and savoury French oaked spices flowing from the highly fragrant nose to the smooth and concentrated palate. So layered. And so well made. It …

Sensational tasting wine with power and poise - what amazing artistry to produce such a cross regional blend. It will age well, but is very, very drinkable now. Highly recommended.