McHenry Hohnen, Rolling Stone 2019

Rolling Stone 2017, McHenry Hohnen (Single Vineyard)

Margaret River, Australia

Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot

Alcohol: 14% ABV

The Story

Biodynamic farming, minimal intervention winemaking, single vineyard wines of Margaret River.

Since its inception McHenry Hohnen has had an unwavering focus on crafting site expressive wines. As the vines age and the soils continue to evolve, the individuality and beauty of the land continually develop in our wines.

The wines of McHenry Hohnen are sourced from the family estate consisting of three vineyards, all located in the southern part of the Margaret River Wine Region: Hazel’s Vineyard and Farm, Calgardup Brook Vineyard and Burnside Vineyard. For decades, founder and owner Murray McHenry has been a leading proponent in pushing the viticultural boundaries of this pristine region. While the portfolio is grounded in Chardonnay and Bordeaux varieties, McHenry Hohnen are also well regarded for less traditional varieties for this region such as Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache, Mataro and Zinfandel.

McHenry Hohnen see their role as stewards of the land and have implemented organic farming practices for many years to create the optimal conditions for soil health and the quality of the grapes harvested. The winemaking team craft wines that pay homage to the site of origin and use low impact techniques combined with an acute attention to detail to achieve the goal of the finest site specific wines.

Whilst the story of McHenry Hohnen is steeped in the history of the region, we look to the future with anticipation as our soil, vines and wines continue to evolve.

Vineyard & Winemaking

100% Hazel’s Vineyard. Our southernmost vineyard further inland than our Burnside and Calgardup vineyards. Hazel’s combines cooling Southern Ocean influences with a northerly aspect and plenty of sunshine. Certified Biodynamic.

The best parcels of fruit from Hazel’s Vineyard were hand-selected and fermented in open stone fermenters using indigenous yeasts. Some parcels remained on skins post-fermentation for several weeks to enhance savouriness and structure, while others were pressed earlier to preserve freshness and aromatic lift. Each variety was vinified separately and matured in a carefully selected array of premium French oak barrels for 16 months. The final blend was bottled without fining or filtration.

Tasting Notes:

The bouquet is a heady embrace of violets, cassis and dark cherry, grounded in the warmth of sun-baked earth. Savoury whispers of black olive, bay leaf and bitter chocolate weave through the fragrance, drawing you deeper. On the palate, power meets poise—a concentrated heart of blackberry, gravel dust and cedar spice wrapped in a supple frame of fine, firm tannins. Crafted from meticulously chosen parcels and produced in tiny quantities, Rolling Stone is the pure expression of its southern Margaret River home, promising decades of graceful evolution.

Cellaring & Service

Cellaring Potential: 20+ years

Serving Temperature: 16–17°C

Allergens: This wine contains sulphites

Accolades

96 pts – “A riot of berries, violets, mulch and Madagascar vanilla makes you take note. Every time you take a sniff a new aroma emerges, coffee, leather and tobacco. The palate is structured, bitter chocolate oak tannins rib around the core, setting it up for a great life in the cellar. This is too early to drink, and its potential is mind-blowing.”
Gabrielle Poy, The Real Review

94 pts – “The brooding 2019 Rolling Stone offers powerful aromas of blackberry, violets, ink and dried herbs with a strong backbone of French oak. Richly flavored yet compact and controlled with muscular tannins, expressive gravel/blackberry flavors are now lifted by a touch of cedary development, suggesting this is more medium than long-term proposition.”
Angus Hughson, Vinous