TN: AFWAC - Hentley Farm Recent Releases 27/6/11

[n4sir]

Last month I attended a tasting of a selection of wines from Hentley Farm, presented by Daniel Galanti. All of the grapes for these wines were sourced from their property, originally an old 100 acre vineyard and mixed farming property at Seppeltsfield situated on the banks of Greenock Creek; the majority of their reds tend to chime in at around 15% alcohol. Anyone interested in future AFWAC events can email the club at: afwac365@gmail.com

2010 Hentley Farm Grenache Rosé, Barossa Valley (screwcap): Very pale rose pink colour. Fresh, musky and zesty with strawberries and spice, a little yeast, delicate florals, bath scents and tobacco. The palate is surprisingly citrusy, very crisp, dry and elegant with a grippy but not harsh finish; a very interesting style that’s a contrast to the Barossa’s big three, and doesn’t rely on a high RS level for its sweetness (2.0g/L).

2009 Hentley Farm Dirty Bliss Grenache Shiraz, Barossa Valley (screwcap): Light to almost medium blood red. The bouquet smells rather volatile and a little rubbery/horsy which detracts from the spicy/earthy cherry fruit and black pepper characters; a meaty/sweet entry with boiled lollies and raspberry confectionery leads to a lightweight palate with a minty/warm mid-palate and a rather short finish (15%).

2009 Hentley Farm Bloodline Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley (screwcap): Surprisingly pale colour, a light to medium red. Sweet and chocolaty nose, then blackcurrant and dried herbs, some liquorice, then redcurrants and tobacco; the palate’s medium-weight, dry and herbal with a chalky finish.

2009 Hentley Farm Caretaker Shiraz, Barossa Valley (screwcap): Medium to very dark red/purple. Like the colour it’s darker than the Bloodline cabernet, but it’s still rather stalky with black cherry and red liquorice characters; the palate’s smoky with some warmth that doesn’t threaten to go over the top (15%), finishing chalky and very dry.

2010 Hentley Farm The Stray Mongrel Grenache Shiraz Zinfandel, Barossa Valley (screwcap): Medium to dark red/purple. Wild and perfumed, blackberry and dried thyme with just a dash of white pepper; the Grenache takes the lead on the light to medium weight palate, cherry stones and confectionery leading to quite a spicy mid-palate, finishing grippy and minty.

2010 Hentley Farm Zinfandel, Barossa Valley (screwcap): Medium to very dark purple/red. More reminiscent of Petit Verdot than Zinfandel, musky, dusty and perfumed with black cherries and black tea with a slice of vanilla; a grippy/stalky entry leads to a medium weight palate of black cherry and tobacco, finishing a little short and minty/peppery with some bitterness on the very end.

2009 Hentley Farm The Beauty Shiraz, Barossa Valley (cork): Dark to inky purple/red. Very attractive with saturated plums and wild florals (no doubt due to the fermentation on Viognier skins), just a little heat too on the nose (15%), then banana, coconut and raspberry syrup, some orange peel/tangerine and pepper with breathing. A slippery entry leads into a surprisingly elegant but dense palate, with grippy, powdery tannins, the fruit and supporting oak running with them all the way to the very end. Probably the best of this label I have tried, and marginally better than The Beast for me tonight.

2009 Hentley Farm The Beast Shiraz, Barossa Valley (cork): Very dark to inky purple/red. Immediately denser and sweeter than The Beauty, blackberries and pepper, some praline and coconut with a little heat underneath; the 15% alcohol seems more obvious on the palate, but it’s still full of fruit and dense, chewy tannins, a touch of bitterness on the very end.

2009 Hentley Farm Von Casper Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley (cork): Dark to inky red. Compared to the surrounding Shiraz wines this is obviously more herbal and a touch smoky and tarry, blueberries and eucalyptus, some dried blood and banana/cedar oak, although there still is some heat on the nose. The palate’s warm but very rich and sweet, blueberries, blackcurrant and black olive, with very grippy tannins on the finish; it’s managing to get away with the 14.9% alcohol for now, a truly hedonistic, Barossa-style Cabernet.

2008 Hentley Farm Clos Otto Shiraz, Barossa Valley (cork): Inky red/purple. Even more saturated and slippery than the preceding wines, spicy too with ground paprika, blackberry and black tea, truffle and molten liquorice, paneforte/cocoa. The palate’s another notch up in intensity, extract and surprisingly balance, the slippery, velvety fruit burying the 15% alcohol with some citrus/clove and meaty nuances, finishing with loads of grip and a touch of herbs. Not for the feint hearted, yet it received all but four of the WOTN votes – more than a little reminiscent of Kalleske’s Johann Georg, Id’ love to see these two head-to-head.


The Votes for WOTN were:

1st: 2008 Clos Otto
2nd: 2009 Von Casper
=3rd: 2009 The Beauty
=3rd: 2010 Stray Mongrel


Cheers,
Ian

[Joe Cz]

Ian,

Thanks for the notes. As you might expect, we are a couple of vintages behind here in the States--the 2007 Beauty and Beast are current.

I've typically preferred the Beauty to the Beast in the past. Never seen the Clos Otto here.

[yummydutch]

Thanks Ian,

I can't wait to try the 2009 Hentley Farm Bloodline Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley with some liquorice in there! Yum

[Brucer]

I noticed recently that they have increased their prices substantially.
I have 04 and 05 Beast, and 05 Clos Otto in the cellar.
I should have a look at them.
Great label on the Clos otto !

[Nayan]

I noticed recently that they have increased their prices substantially.
I have 04 and 05 Beast, and 05 Clos Otto in the cellar.
I should have a look at them.
Great label on the Clos otto !

Please feedback when you do; I have the 05 Beast gently slumbering and would love to know how it's travelling