Mrs Ray has temporarily foresworn alcohol. Our recent weekend in northern Italy took its toll and it’ll be a while before she looks a bottle of Amaro in the eye again. It’s all my fault apparently and I stand accused as a pusher and a feeder, solely responsible for her liverish state. I tried to explain the concept of free will as I brought her yet more tea’n’Anadin but the homily was badly received and I narrowly missed a pair of flying slippers as I retreated.
Hints of butter, lemon and toast are beautifully kept in check with a slightly salty/savoury finish
It’s her loss. As a proud half-Aussie, my wife loves the wines from Down Under and there are few finer than those from McHenry Hohnen, the range of which I was delighted to taste for this offer, albeit on my own.
Founded 20 years ago in Margaret River, Western Australia, by brothers-in-law Murray McHenry and David Hohnen (fabled founder of Cape Mentelle and Cloudy Bay), McHenry Hohnen is represented in the UK by Louis Latour Agencies, where it rubs shoulders with the likes of Gosset Champagne, Banfi and Frapin Cognac.
Margaret River, three hours’ drive south of Perth, is a glorious spot which, although it only produces some 3 per cent of Australia’s wine, famously produces 20 per cent of the country’s premium wine. We’re talking top notch here, with wineries such as Cape Mentelle, Cloudburst, Cullen, Leeuwin Estate, Moss Wood, Vasse Felix all making exceptional wines. McHenry Hohnen – entirely organic and biodynamic – is up there too and ever since I visited the winery a dozen or so years ago, I’ve loved what they do and hope you will too.
The 2021 McHenry Hohnen Rocky Road Semillon/Sauvignon (1) is a half-and-half blend, with all the fruit coming from McHH’s Calgardup Brook Vineyard. Fermented in stainless steel and oak, it’s fresh, creamy and dry, with just a hint of lemon sherbet in its long finish. £16.50 down from £20.99.
The 2022 McHenry Hohnen Laterite Hills Chardonnay (2) is classy fare, fermented in French oak and aged for ten months on the lees. There’s a subtle creaminess to the wine and a touch of honey too and it’s all elegance and restraint. £21.50 down from £27.50.
The 2019 McHenry Hohnen Calgardup Brook Vineyard Chardonnay (3) is even more stylish, able to hold its head up among the poshest of white burgundies. Hints of butter, lemon and toast are beautifully kept in check with a slightly salty/savoury finish. £27.50 down from £33.
The 2021 McHenry Hohnen Rocky Road Shiraz (4) is so fresh and so juicy, with luscious bramble, plum fruit and a touch of peppery spice to the finish. This is Aussie Shiraz at its tastiest. £16.50 down from £20.99.
The 2018 McHenry Hohnen Hazel’s Vineyard GSM (5) is 85 per cent Grenache, 10 per cent Syrah and 5 per cent Mataro (aka Mourvèdre), each fermented separately before blending and bottling with just a rough filtration. Juicily sweet in the mouth, with mulberries, plums and cherries to the fore, its finish is marked by a savoury spiciness. If you like southern Rhône reds such as Gigondas, Lirac and Châteauneuf-du-Pape, you’ll love this. £19.95 down from £25.25.
The 2021 McHenry Hohnen BDX (6) is bang up my street. An enticingly aromatic, oak-aged blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, it’s chock full of ripe, succulent blackcurrant/mulberry fruit rounded off by an almost coffee-like finish. £21.50 down from £27.75.
Finally, as a special add-on, because I can’t resist showing you the heights these wines can reach, the 2017 McHenry Hohnen Rolling Stone (7). A spectacular blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot, it’s rich, concentrated and intense with ripe sweet fruit and a savoury finish. It’s a wonderful wine! £50 down from £63.29.
The wines are available in six-bottle boxes and the mixed case has two bottles each of wines 1-6. Wine 7 is available in unmixed sixes only. Delivery is free for 12 bottles or more.
Order online or download an order form.
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