McHenry Hohnen Rolling Stone, Margaret River

Description

McHenry Hohnen Rolling Stone is a single-vineyard, Australian red wine blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot.

McHenry Hohnen: Founded 2006

The Hohnen and McHenry families had been growing grapes in Western Australia since the 1970s, but it wasn’t until 2006 that David Hohnen joined his brother-in-law, Murray McHenry, to found McHenry Hohnen Wines. They source grapes from family-owned vineyard sites around the southern part of the Margaret River wine-growing region. The Mediterranean climate of the Margaret River is perfectly suited to growing varieties associated with southern France and Spain, as well as reflecting the region’s heritage with Bordeaux varieties.

Common sense farming philosophies are employed, cultivating a system in which soil and its organisms, along with plants, insects and animals co-exist in a thriving equilibrium. Vineyard management embraces sustainable ‘old school’ practices following biodynamic principles.

McHenry Hohnen Rolling Stone Vineyards

The fruit for McHenry Hohnen Rolling Stone is sourced predominantly from Hazel’s Vineyard in the southern part of Margaret River. The vineyard was established in 1998 when Murray McHenry purchased an old farm south of Witchcliffe and planted 40 hectares of vines.

The vines are planted on a north-facing slope of ironstone gravels on a tributary of the Upper Chapman Brook. With a northerly aspect, the vines enjoy long days of sunshine, moderated by the vineyard’s southern location. The soils here are clay and ironstone pebbly soils, great for growing vines, treacherous on the roads – hence the name “Rolling Stone”. It is here that the state-of-the-art “Vintners” winery is located.

McHenry Hohnen Rolling Stone Winemaking

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

The Rolling Stone 2017 is a Bordeaux-style blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, 5% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot.