2022 McHenry Hohnen Grenache

Intriguing aromatics of blood orange, star anise, and red cherry are layered with savoury dry herbs—lavender, saltbush, and a gentle wildness that speaks of site and hands-off winemaking.

The palate is juicy and vibrant, driven by crunchy natural acidity and framed by long, gravelly tannins—a benchmark expression of Grenache with structure, purity, and a distinctly southern Margaret River edge.

Vineyard: 100% Hazel's Vineyard. As McHenry Hohnen's southernmost and certified biodynamic vineyard, Hazel’s Vineyard is located near Witchcliffe in the headwaters of Chapman Brook. The site features free-draining ironstone gravel loam soils over a strong clay base, providing excellent drainage and promoting healthy vine growth. The vineyard's northerly aspect and exposure to cooling Southern Ocean influences contribute to the cultivation of a diverse range of varieties, including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot, Grenache, Petit Verdot, and Mataro.

The 2022 season began slowly and escalated into a fast-paced and exciting harvest. A cool, wet spring delayed vine development, setting up a late start. Summer brought consistently dry, warm conditions through December, January, and February, with ideal ripening weather—sunny days and warm nights. The red harvest began shortly after the whites concluded, leaving little downtime for the cellar team. Yields were lower than expected across red varieties, but the warm, dry season produced fruit with excellent tannin ripeness, deep colour, and concentration.

Sourced from a tiny, gravelly section of the Grenache block at our certified biodynamic Hazel’s Vineyard. The fruit was hand-harvested and fermented as whole clusters in a sealed fermenter. After seven days of maceration, it was gently pressed to large-format oak and concrete vessels for malolactic fermentation and maturation on lees. The wine spent just over 10 months in vessel, followed by a further 24 months of bottle ageing before release.