McHenry Hohnen Hazel's Vineyard Syrah (Organic) 2017 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia

94/100 James Halliday
94/100 Ray Jordan (Wine Pilot)
94/100 Nick Stock
92/100 Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)
95/100 Campbell Mattinson (Halliday's Wine Companion) (2018 Vintage)
95/100 Erin Larkin (2019 Vintage)
93/100 Halliday Wine Companion Awards (2017 vintage)
Made from Biodynamic Grapes

Wine Companion Winery of the Year 2022
5 Star Winery - James Halliday

James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion Awards "Deep crimson-purple; it has unexpected, but welcome, savoury tannins that give texture and structure to the blackberry/black cherry fruit. A long future for this wine." 

The Winemaker "Sourced from a single block of bio-dynamically grown Syrah at Hazel’s Vineyard. After pressing, the wine was aged in a 2800L French-Oak Foudre for 9 months.The wine was bottled without fining or filtration, ensuring a living reflection of a block we consider special and unique."

Mike Bennie "This is different. It really does live up to the syrah moniker. It’s peppery, bunchy, spicy and then fruity; it’s about as different an expression of Margaret River shiraz as you will find, and yet it is fresh and it is not unripe. It pushes the boundaries for sure, but there’s nothing hard about it. It’s (very) dry. It’s savoury. It’s nutty. And it’s interesting. If you’re looking for more standard Margaret River fruit-filled fare, this won’t fit that bill. But if you like cool climate shiraz/syrah, chances are you’ll find some joy here."

Nick Stock "This has superb strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, in an exuberant and very fragrant mode with immense freshness. The palate has a smooth weave of tannin that carries the same brand of lively berries in a very approachable, seamless style. Clever wine."

Campbell Mattinson "Single vineyard, 100% whole bunch, 14 days on skins, matured in a single 2800l cask on lees, bottled unfined and unfiltered. Inherently savoury as you'd expect, with roasted nut, twig and peppery spice notes running wild through the wine. There's a good push of cherry-plum fruit, too, along with graphite and gum leaf notes. There's a perfumed sweetness to this wine despite the charge of peppers. It's a beauty." (2018 Vintage)

Erin Larkin "It seems these guys can't do any wrong at the moment. Layered, spicy, slightly reductive (in a good and engaging way), stemmy, juicy and delicious. Briney acid and red fruits. Savoury, structured and quite exciting, with the salted heirloom tomato character that so excites in shiraz/syrah." (2019 Vintage)

McHenry Hohnen was founded by one of the pioneers of the Margaret River winemaking region, David Hohnen and his brother in law, Murray McHenry, an accomplished fine wine retailer. Both have been making wine in Margaret River since the early 1970’s. McHenry Hohnen vineyards are 100% biodynamic. Their three unique vineyards (Burnside, Calgardup and Hazel’s) produce wines that are a reflection of the land. McHenry Hohnen focusses on crafting site-expressive wines and are known for producing some of the region's best wines.

"McHenry Hohnen is tucked away off Bussell Highway to the south of Margaret River. The wines have bound from strength, a comment never truer than under the stewardship of winemaker Jacopo (Japo). Under his leadership, the wines have been catapulted into a new realm of quality. The chardonnays particularly exemplify that hard-to-achieve balance of pleasurable on release, and capable of graceful ageing. The move towards organics and sustainable farming has had a positive impact on the quality of the wines, and it is a delight to witness so much diversity in the vineyards - from experimental clones and new plantings, to sheep, chickens, olives and vegetables. McHenry Hohnen is an estate on the move - divert your eyes at your peril - EL."

Margaret River is one of the best-known wine regions in Australia, recognized internationally for the quality of its wines and the natural beauty of the region. Although originally renowned for its unusually refined cabernet sauvignon and intensely citrusy chardonnay varieties, the region now produces Semillon Sauvignon blanc blends and Shiraz.

Located in the south-western corner of Western Australia, it is famous for having a more 'European' wine style than its counterparts across Australia, owing to the regions temperate, coastal location which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.

Syrah is a rich, powerful, and sometimes meaty red wine that originated in the Rhône Valley of France. Syrah is now the most planted grape of Australia where it is usually referred to as Shiraz.