Wine Reviews and Endorsements
MARGARET RIVER WINE SHOW 2011 RESULTS FOR HAY SHED HILL & PITCHFORK WINES
SILVER MEDAL 2010 Hay Shed Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
SILVER MEDAL 2010 Hay Shed Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
SILVER MEDAL 2011 Pitchfork Pink
BRONZE MEDAL 2010 Hay Shed Hill Shiraz Tempranillo
BRONZE MEDAL 2011 Hay Shed Hill Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
HAY SHED HILL SHIRAZ TEMPRANILLO 2010
Lush ripe dark fruits on the nose. Plum and spices with an earthy lifted rose petal red berry character. The palate is generous with a fine thread of dusty earthiness and fine tannin carrying to a long savoury finish. Very nice with food. Score: 91/100
The West Australian Newspaper, Fresh, Thursday 10, November by Ray Jordan
HAY SHED HILL BLOCK 6 CHARDONNAY 2010
Sweet oak spice guides lemon and green apples, and there is a hint of smoke/ash too. Still very tightly wound and needing some down time, but enjoyable for edifice now. Score: 92/100
Wine100 WBM Magazine, October 2011 by Mike Bennie
HAY SHED HILL CABERNET MERLOT 2010
Revel in the exquisite delights of a truly delectable Margaret River cabernet merlot.
Some things just seem so exquisitely right. Everything in the right place and in the right proportions. The Hay Shed Hill cabernet merlot is what I would term an exquisitely right wine. Let me explain. This is a very popular blend in Margaret River in particular, where it excels as a quality blended red consistently punching above its weight. But often it is not much more than a fruit bomb – with obvious exceptions.
In this case, winemaker Michael Kerrigan has created a superbly elegant and stylish wine with a degree of sophistication normally associated with the best examples of this blend. It has a controlled linear structure and persistent fruit flavours that carry effortlessly to a long finish.
Everything just seems to work together as it should and the result is a super wine offering tremendous value.
by Ray Jordan The West Australian Newspaper, Fresh - October 2011
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN WINE GUIDE 2012 by Ray Jordan
RESULTS FOR HAY SHED HILL WINES
2010 HAY SHED HILL "BLOCK 1" SEMILLON SAUVIGNON BLANC - 93/100
2010 HAY SHED HILL "BLOCK 6" CHARDONNAY - 94/100
2009 HAY SHED HILL "BLOCK 2" CABERNET SAUVIGNON - 95/100
2010 HAY SHED HILL SAUVIGNON BLANC SEMILLON - 90/100
2011 AUSTRALIAN SMALL WINEMAKERS SHOW
RESULTS FOR HAY SHED HILL WINES
2010 HAY SHED HILL CABERNET SAUVIGNON - Score: GOLD
2010 HAY SHED HILL SHIRAZ TEMPRANILLO - Score: SILVER
2010 HAY SHED HILL CABERNET MERLOT- Score: SILVER
2009 HAY SHED HILL "BLOCK 2" CABERNET SAUVIGNON - Score: BRONZE
2010 HAY SHED HILL CHARDONNAY - Score: BRONZE
JAMES HALLIDAY AUSTRALIAN WINE COMPANION 2012 EDITION
RED FIVE STAR Winery Rating*
*Outstanding winery regularly producing wines of exemplary quality and typicity. Will have at least two wines rated at 94 points or above and had a five-star rating for the previous two years.
The changes continue at Hay Shed Hill. Highly regarded former winemaker at Howard Park, Mike Kerrigan acquired the business in late 2006 (with co-ownership by the West Cape Howe Syndicate) and is now the full-time winemaker. He had every confidence he could dramatically lift the quality of the wines, which is precisely what he has done.
OUTSTANDING Wines of the highest quality , often with a distinguished pedigree. 94-100 points
Hay Shed Hill Block 2 Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 – 95 points
Bright colour; deep and essency blackcurrant bouquet, with cedary notes from the oak and black olive thrown in for good measure; the palate is full-bodied with dense fruit on entry, lifted by fresh acidity and ample tannins; long and tightly wound, will go a considerable distance. To 2025.
Hay Shed Hill Block 1 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2010 – 94 points
Light straw-green; this is serious wine territory, the estate grown vines producing concentrated fruit aromas and flavours with the added complexity of some barrel-ferment oak infusion. The strength of the wine lies in its balance and excellent length. To 2016.
Hay Shed Hill Block 6 Chardonnay 2010 – 94 points
The Gingin clone of chardonnay is known for its low yields and concentrated flavours; early picking has introduced some apple to the melon and stone fruit aromas and flavours of an elegant, low-key wine; barrel fermentation in French oak has only played a minor part in shaping the wine. To 2020.
Hay Shed Hill Chardonnay 2010 – 94 points
Light staw-green; free-run juice from estate-grown grapes gives the wine a head start before fermentation in French barriques followed by 11 months’ maturation in those barrels. The wine has elegance and finesse, with a zesty grapefruit and pear finish. To 2018.
Hay Shed Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 – 94 points
Crimson-purple; an exemplary Margaret River Cabernet, awash with delicious cassis and blackcurrant fruit from the word go; fine ripe, slightly savour tannins and French oak complete a truly lovely wine. To 2030.
Pitchfork Cabernet Merlot – 94 points
Bright colour; fragrant red fruit bouquet with an herbaceous rolled leaf and cedar note; the palate is lively and accessible, with plenty of stuffing providing a classic Margaret River ride; outstanding value for such quality. To 2018.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Wines of great quality, style and character, worthy of a place in any cellar.
Hay Shed Hill Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2010 – 93 points
Hay Shed Hill Shiraz Tempranillo 2009 – 90 points
Hay Shed Cabernet Merlot 2009 – 90 points
Pitchfork Semillon Sauvignon Blanc – 90 points
(tasting notes not shown but available on website www.winecompanion.com.au)
Winewise Magazine June 2011
Hay Shed Hill Shiraz Tempranillo 2009
The addition of Tempranillo has given this wine that something extra, that is, a distinct European touch. The aromas have fresh spicy notes while the palate has a backbone of fine powdery tannins with persistent vibrant flavours. Excellent Value. Highly Recommended.
Pitchfork Shiraz 2009
Ripe dark berry aromas with hints of violets. The palate is lively and fresh with very good depth of lingering flavours supported by a fine tannin structure. This wine punches well above its weight. Excellent Value. Highly Recommended
Hay Shed Hill Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2010
Rich, grassy/tropical aromas with matching flavours on the palate. The wine will have wide appeal with its uncomplicated, fresh fruity style. Recommeded.
WBM Magazine reviews by Tyson Stelzer - link to profile page
Hay Shed Hill Block 2 Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Block 2? There’s absolutely nothing second about HSH’s number one Cabernet. Layered with lingering red and black berry fruits, tobacco and coffee oak and gravelly tannins, it needs years to unravel. 93/100
Hay Shed Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Bargain Margaret River! Now there's a line you don't hear often! Definition, concentration, restraint, gravelly texture, cruchy acidity, cool red fruits and rose perfume. It's got a decade in it, too! 93/100
Hay Shed Hill Margaret River Cabernet Merlot 2009
Intrigued by MR but could never justify the price? Now you can. Another epic MR season piles more fruit concentration and struture than ever into this measly price point. Beautiful precision of violets and blackcurrants, with serious tannins. 92/100
Courier Mail review by Mike Frost - May 20, 2011
Hay Shed Hill Cabernet Merlot 2009
This medium-bodied Margaret River red shows nice blackcurrant and plum fruit on the nose and palate with a touch of oak and fine tannins. 90 points.
TOP 100 AUSTRALIAN WINES By Matthew Jukes (UK)
Hay Shed Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
A first appearance in this list for Hay Shed Hill. This is a cracking Margaret River Cabernet and for once it is eminently affordable. With enough depth and texture of dark plum and fresh, green leaf notes to keep even the most fervent purist happy. I hope that this wine opens the floodgates for Michael Kerrigan and his undoubted talent in years to come.
KING OF THE HILL by Ray Jordan April 2011
Hay Shed Hill Block 2 Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 - 95/100
This is sourced from some of the oldest vines in Margaret River. So elegant and stylish, yet at the same time the power and intensity of Margaret River is so evident. Wonderful balance of oak, tannins and fruit. A wine for extended cellaring.
Hay Shed Hill Block 6 Chardonnay 2010 - 94/100
This is a single-vineyard chardonnay from Hay Shed Hill. Has a spicy, minerally and subtle grapefruit character on the nose. It's a very fine and almost delicate chardonnay, yet there is admirable ower that targets a precise, long finish. A very expressive wine.
Hay Shed Hill Block 1 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2010 - 93/100
This is an outstanding example of a Margaret River blended white. The use of a small amount of oak has augmented the tightly wound fruit and created a lean and angular palate of great penetration. Very complex, with the potential to develop with extended cellaring.
Hay Shed Hill Chardonnay 2010 - 90/100
Although Kerrigan has used 11 months of French oak with this light-bodied chardonnay, thankfully it's the flavoursome bright and vibrant fruit that dominates. A finer, leaner style of chardonnay but with abundant palate intensity. Fine acid sustains a keen finish.
TASTE.COM.AU by Tony Love April 2011
Hay Shed Hill Shiraz Tempranillo 2009 - Four Stars (Excellent Value)
Margaret River has built a strong reputation with red blends - red cabernet plus merlot, especially. We see a growing number in this new mode. Here, the sweet notes of both varieties are working in harmony, the darker crimson fruit shiraz flavours lifted by raspberry bullet edges of the tempranillo. All up, a fresh and modern Aussie shiraz mix.
Hay Shed Hill Chardonnay