Warm and full and encompassing. Served chilled, each sip nevertheless becomes an August ocean, relaxing and sinking you into yourself.
High rating for the intense experience. Do not order in a place it is best to keep your eyes open. — 3 years ago
Another stellar wine from Mike and Rhonda.
A lovely surprise. Not your typical bombastic cab. A model of balance and restraint. Moderate sweetness combines with subtle acidity. Subtle sweetness combines with coffee and tobacco notes. Finish is like sinking into a black hole. This will cellar for donkeys years. — 5 years ago
Wow. Like sinking into a plush velvet couch. Full bodied, dark cherry, dark tones (is that leather?) Smooth and complex. — 3 years ago
Like sinking your teeth into a fat bouquet of pink roses. With a hint of peach. Scent is gorgeous. Also salted melon. Earthy and rustic. Tastes of the earth. Not delicate even though you’d think so. Not pretentious and not fooling around. — 4 years ago
Magnificent, full bodied, plush, decadent Aussie personalisation of a 'Super Tuscan' Cab Shiraz blend. Crafted by master winemaker Andrew Seppelt through Brett Hayes' pioneering newish kid off the block 'Hayes Family Wines'. Don't be fooled by the youth of Brett's venture, these wines display a history and heritage steeped in barossas's finest terroir, knowledge and nous. These are grapes from Barossa's hallowed Ebeneezer dirt, and Shultz vineyard dirt at that. But it's Andrew's knack for oeniological alchemy that extracts the finest from the blend, making a wine that is so plush, rounded and powerful it feels like donning your red velvet smoking jacket and sinking into a soft armchair in your best old slippers.
The only disappointing thing about this wine is that, in my humble opinion, it really needs a good 8-10 years of cellaring to reach its full potential. Have one now to enjoy it's youthful vibrancy and stash the rest of you can leave it alone!
I hear that this will be the only vintage blending both grapes from Barossa soil, so grab this unique vintage while you can. I believe future vintages with be Barossa Shiraz and Coonawarra Cab Sauv. The Aussie finest bride and groom upbringing of this pair. I can't wait to see what the future holds.
NB: the author is neither commercially connected to Hayes Family Wines' or receives free bottles to sample. All wine was purchased by the author. — 6 years ago
Stunner - just dense & inky, brooding effusive nose of a berry compote, rich ripe saturated with pervasive spine of minerality, Herbes de Provence. Just jaw dropping. So soft & plush on palate, like sinking into an old Cadillac, crushed velvet, gobs of dark fruit, sweet baking spices, pepper and extraordinary length on finish. Tasted w/vintner prior to release (knew it would be epic) - drank & sold a lot of this. In the zone now w/many years ahead — 3 years ago
Interesting TCA experience. As soon as I removed the capsule, there was an overwhelming blast of TCA. Got the Durand with a sinking feeling. Cork came out easily and it was very heavy and with a dense grain. Decanted. . . and it's fine. Better than fine. Cigar box, sweet plum goodness. Went back and smelled the top of the cork thinking maybe it was my upper lip, but nope, that thing reeks of TCA. Weird. But happy. — 6 years ago
Jeanette Bangs
Deliciously soft Tempranillo, imagine sinking into a fiery sunset cloud… 🍷🌅🍷 — 3 years ago