2023 Hazel's Vineyard Zinfandel

Fragrant and lifted, with fresh raspberries, rose petals, and cherry compote at the core. Accents of red liquorice and five spice bring aromatic warmth and intrigue.

The palate is juicy and fruit-forward, bursting with crunchy red fruits and cinnamon spice. Natural acidity provides drive and length, while cocoa-like tannins deliver structure and a silky mouthfeel. A beautifully balanced expression of site and clone.

Vineyard: Hazel’s Vineyard is McHenry Hohnen’s southernmost site, located near Witchcliffe in the headwaters of Chapman Brook. With ironstone gravel loam soils over a clay base, and a strong maritime influence from the Southern Ocean, the site produces structured, expressive red wines with purity and power. This block was farmed with a deep commitment to soil health and sustainability prior to biodynamic certification in 2021, and remains a vital source of our most site-driven expressions.

A cool, wet spring delayed vine development and led to a late start for harvest. Summer conditions were ideal—dry, warm, and sunny with minimal heat spikes and consistently warm nights. The red harvest followed swiftly after the whites, keeping the winery team moving at pace. Yields were lower than anticipated, but the resulting red wines show impressive tannin ripeness, colour intensity, and vibrancy—hallmarks of a strong vintage across Margaret River.

Harvested in the cool early hours from Hazel’s Vineyard, the fruit was gently transferred by gravity into concrete vats without crushing. A slow, cool fermentation followed, lasting approximately 14 days. After pressing, the wine was matured in a combination of French and American large-format barrels for 14 months. Bottled unfined in September 2023 to preserve natural texture and vibrancy.