2019 Ben Haines Grampians Shiraz

After years of producing his own wines while working, and winning awards for some of the biggest names in Australian wine such as Mt Langhi, Ben Haines has finally made the leap, and now focusses solely on making his own wines under his eponymous label.
The fruit for this wine was sourced from two cool-climate vineyards in the Great Western district of the Grampians: Andrew Toomey’s “Miners Ridge” vineyard in Armstrong, and Rod McKenzie’s east-facing “Shannandale Ridge” Vineyard just west of Ararat. Close together geographically, the sites have distinct yet highly complementary personalities. The Toomey vineyard brings the perfumed aromatics, velvety succulence and finesse, while McKenzie delivers some density, and a darker, more brooding side.
Matured for 14 months in big old barrels and 100% whole bunch fermented. Black as night in colour with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Lifted aromas of violet, plum and red liquorice are overlaid with notions of clove, subtle vanillin cedar, earth and peppered meat scents then ensue. Medium weighted, the palate has an elegant yet fleshy feel dishing up a savoury flavour profile of plum, red liquorice and blueberries infused with clove. Vanillin cedar, earth and peppered dried meat characters lie underneath. Finishes fresh with a youthful vibrancy, velvety tannins and a long finessed aftertaste.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5%

Other Reviews…..
100% whole bunches, fermented wild, bottled unfined and unfiltered. It's had a lot of love and attention put into it and it shows. It presents a wide array of peppery/bunchy/herbal flavours, but it's also svelte and textural and the fruit, well, it's ripe and ready to seduce. It's a fresh, complex, well-structured wine of substance. Drink by 2036.
95 points
Campbell Mattinson – James Halliday’s The Wine Companion