Reviews
James Halliday Wine Companion 2019 Edition
2016 Hedonist Shiraz
- 94 points - Wine Companion 2019 Edition, James Halliday, 01 Aug 2018
"Destemmed, wild yeast open-fermented, 14 days on skins, fermentation completed in and 12 months maturation in new French oak, then a further 12 months maturation in used French oak. Deeply coloured; sophisticated winemaking has resulted in a full-bodied shiraz that will be very long lived, feeding on its balance and length, firm tannins that are nonetheless ripe one specific of its many building blocks. Gold medal International Shiraz Challenge '18 no surprise. Great value."
2016 Hedonist Cabernet Sauvignon
- 94 points - Wine Companion 2019 Edition, James Halliday, 01 Aug 2018
"Harvested in two batches on 29 Feb and 5 Mar, fermented separately for 8 and 27 days respectively, matured in French oak (15% new) for 18 months. Interesting wine. The length of fermentation and the gap between pickings have produced a medium-bodied, savoury wine with just a hint of minty/wintergreen, outweighed by the freshness and cassis flavours of the long palate - all in all, cool climate references."
HOT 100
We delighted our 2015 Reserve Shiraz has been included in the Adelaide Review's Hot 100.
A brilliant show championing drinkability. Here's a few words on the wine from the judges:
Winner Winner
Hedonist took another Gold Medal at the International Wine Challenge last week in the UK with our 2016 Shiraz. That’s back-to-back gold medals for our Shiraz at this show!
Australian Wine Companion 2018 Edition
James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion 2018 Edition, 01 Aug 2017
- 94 points - 2015 Hedonist Tempranillo
- Includes 4% grenache, open-fermented, pumped over twice daily, 10-day ferment, pressed to used French hogsheads for 10 months maturation. Although the vines are young (7yo), this suggests the site has great potential. There is truly lovely cherry fruit on the fresh light to medium-bodied palate thanks in part to the controlled alcohol; the finish has gently savoury tannins that tie the parcel up ever so neatly.
- 91 points - 2016 Hedonist Sangioves Rose
Hand-picked in the early morning, crushed, 3 hours on skins before gentle pressing, cool-fermented in stainless steel. Very pale pink; the ever-moving bouquet throws up rose petals, apricot kernels (the Clappis descriptive touchstone for the bouquet and palate) and citrus-tinged acidity on the fresh, ultra-light and dry finish.
- 91 points - 2015 Hedonist Sangiovese
Crushed and destemmed, twice daily pumpovers for 8 days, then one daily for the next 6 weeks, 70% matured in used French hogsheads, 30% in tank, for 7 months. Neatly handled.
- 91 points - 2015 Hedonist Shiraz
From the estate bio-certified vineyard at Willunga, picked over 3 weeks commencing 19 Feb, open-fermented, thence to 20% new French and used French and American hogsheads for 12 months. Rich, full-bodied and full-flavoured.
2015 Hedonist Shiraz
92 points - The Wine Front, Gary Walsh, 19 June 2017
"Not too familiar with this producer, but good wine in the glass. Juicy raspberry, cherry, spice and vanilla perfume. Medium bodied, again fresh and juicy, almost playful, but not without depth. Tannin is ripe and lightly chewy, acidity fresh and unobtrusive, and there’s a savoury spiced sausage thing going on as the wine closes. Great drink. So nicely turned out."
2015 Hedonist Shiraz
- Gold Medal - 2017 International Wine Competition
- Silver Medal - 2017 Decanter World Wine Awards - 90 points
- 92 points - Decanter Magazine (June 2017) - Alex Hunt MV, Roger Jones & Anthony Rose
2014 Hedonist Cabernet
- Bronze Medal - Decanter International Wine Show
Gold Medal
The Hedonist 2012 Reserve Shiraz takes Gold at the 2016 Melbourne International Wine Competition - 1 August 2016
Top 100
The Hedonist 2014 Tempranillo makes Tony Love and The Advertiser's Top 100 for 2016 Wines!
Hedonist takes Gold at The 2015 Great Australian Shiraz Challenge
Hedonist Shiraz takes on Penfolds Grange
Roxanne Wilson, The Advertiser, 16th October, 2014
Australian Wine Companion 2016 Edition
James Halliday
2013 Hedonist Shiraz - 94 points
2012 Hedonist Cabernet Sauvignon - 92 points
The Hedonist Shiraz 2013
93 points, The Wine Front, Campbell Mattinson, Posted on 19 March 2015, http://www.winefront.com.au/
"Made by Walter Clappis but it seems to be a brand unto itself. Grown biodynamically, matured in both French and American oak, and bottled unfiltered.
Weight, flavour, freshness, length. It’s McLaren Vale to a tee, almost old school, but it’s so well done. Blackberry, chocolate, red cherry and coffee. Balanced and smooth. For many red drinkers this will be just what the doctor ordered."
Telegraph Weekend
Victoria Moore, "Here's Looking at You, Late Settler", Saturday 7th February 2015
Australian Wine Companion 2015 Edition - James Halliday
2012 Hedonist Shiraz - 95 points
2012 The Hedonist Shiraz, McLaren Vale, South Australia
Big, rich, dark, sappy and filling, this is a classic McLaren Vale Shiraz. It has stunning American and French oak seasoning, which adds incredible aromatics to the lusty chassis.
Matthew Jukes, The Daily Mail Weekend Magazine, 31st May 2013.
Making a Case for Tempranillo
The Advertiser, Taste, Tony Love - 28th May, 2014
The Advertiser, Taste, Tony Love - 30th April, 2014
2012 The Hedonist Shiraz
Review by Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Rating: 90+
"Deep garnet-purple in color the 2012 Shiraz is intensely scented of mocha, black plum preserves and blackberry tart with suggestions of licorice and bacon fat. Medium to full-bodied with mouth-filling black fruit and mocha flavors, it has a great backbone of firm, grainy tannins and lively acid before finishing long. Drink it now to 2019+."
Wine Advocate, Issue 211, Feb 2014
5 stars
Australian Wine Companion 2014 Edition - James Halliday
Hedonist Wines has again been awarded 5-stars in James Halliday's 2014 Australian Wine Companion
2010 Hedonist Shiraz - 94 points
2010 Hedonist Reserve Shiraz - 94 points (Pre-release)
2012 Hedonist Sangiovese Rosé - 90 points
Jancis Robinson, 8 December 2012, http://www.jancisrobinson.com
2010 Hedonist Shiraz makes Jancis Robinson's Top 100 Reds (2012), selected from over 10,000 wines world wide.
"Polished, fun, pure. Classic glossy Shiraz from South Australia's McLaren Vale. Spicy and not too potent. Dry finish. Biodynamically grown; attractively labelled. What's not to like?"
Jancis Robinson
For full article click the link: http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/a201212071.html
Jancis Robinson, 19 October 2012, http://www.jancisrobinson.com
2010 Hedonist Shiraz - Wine of the week
"I can thoroughly recommend this sunny, satisfying drink for consumption, with hearty food, any time over the next three years, and gave it an enthusiastic score of 17 out of 20 when I tasted a range of Waitrose current offerings recently."
Jancis Robinson
For full article click the link: http://www.jancisrobinson.com/m/article/a201210181
Australian Wine Companion 2013 Edition - James Halliday
