2015 McHenry Hohnen Hazel's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River

Firm, perfumed, well-fruited and impressive. A beautiful example of the glory of cabernet. Minted blackcurrant, chicory and dark chocolate flavours cruise authoritatively through the palate. Everything here is in high class order.

96 points Campbell Mattinson winecompanion.com.au August 2020 

This is beautiful. Succulent blackcurrant and plum with a wonderful leafy minerality. Has a sweet fruit character that is most appealing . Lovely  texture. Bright and satiny with an energy through the palate. Chalky supporting tannins. Easily the best of these wines yet released"

96 points Ray Jordan West Australian Wine Guide 2021

McHenry Hohnen Hazel’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River is a powerful yet poised expression of the region’s most iconic red variety. Sourced from a single vineyard in the southern reaches of Margaret River near Witchcliffe, this wine captures the essence of place—deeply rooted in gravelly loam soils with a strong maritime influence that tempers ripening and enhances structure, freshness, and complexity.

Hazel’s Vineyard is farmed organically and biodynamically, reflecting McHenry Hohnen’s holistic approach to viticulture. The site’s cooler southern location allows for extended hang time, resulting in Cabernet fruit with incredible aromatic lift, fine tannins, and natural acidity. The vines dig deep into ironstone-rich soils, adding savoury depth and mineral tension to the wine.

The fruit is handpicked, destemmed, and fermented with wild yeasts in small open-top fermenters, followed by aging in a mix of seasoned and new French oak barriques. The winemaking is minimal-intervention, designed to highlight vineyard character rather than cellar technique.

In the glass, it offers a fragrant nose of blackcurrant, cassis, bay leaf, cedar, and graphite. The palate is medium to full-bodied, structured yet elegant, with fine-grained tannins and flavours of dark plum, mulberry, tobacco, and crushed rock. A vibrant acid line drives the wine to a long, savoury finish, making it a natural candidate for cellaring as well as immediate drinking with food.

This Cabernet Sauvignon is a standout from Margaret River—serious yet finely tuned, and a true expression of Hazel’s Vineyard’s biodynamic soul and coastal terroir.