The Beauty Shiraz 2014, Hentley Farm, Barossa Valley

Peach, apricot and florals provide the lift while surrounded by blue and red fruits, white pepper and peaty earth sitting further in the background. This complex combination of flavours continues onto the palate with the blue/red fruits playing the leading role. Bright acid and tannin drive provide great focus down the middle, bright fruits providing the framework. Soft, expressive and complex.

Hentley Farm is a boutique single estate winery that produces wines reflective of its exceptional Seppeltsfield site and microclimates. James Halliday, the revered Australian wine critic, scored Hentley Farm with the highest average scores of any Australian winery from 2015 to 2018. Today, it remains the only Barossa Valley winery to be named Australia’s “Winery of the Year” and continues to hold 5 red star status.

Shiraz and wet Viognier skins (3%) were combined at the weighbridge, destemmed only, and
transferred to their fermentation vessel. A combination of inoculated and natural yeast strains
performed the fermentation. After an initial temperature spike, 1/3 of the wine was sent to oak
for fermentation off skins. The balance was chilled and returned over the skins where a minimal
pump-over regime (1-2/day) was employed to ensure the softness of palate for which The Beauty
is known. It was then basket pressed to a combination of new (40%) and old French barrels where it underwent natural malolactic fermentation. The wine spent a total of 18 months maturation in oak. No fining or filtration were used in the production of this wine.