Hentley Farm The Beast Shiraz 2012

 Like the fabled character, the Beast is big and bold, yet has a beautiful soft side...  Selected from a single block high on the hill, where the soils are shallow and the sunlight is even, you can expect the Beast to exhibit great concentration of flavour and richness, with soft grippy tannins.

 *2015 Winery of the Year* Hentley Farm has a single-minded focus on producing what is as close as you're ever going find in Australia to a Grand Cru Burgundy or a First Growth Bordeaux. Estate-grown grapes come from a single block high on the hill, with shallow soils and even sunlight exposure resulting in very small berries. Deep, saturated crimson-purple paints the scene for a wine bottled Jan '14, with untold layers of black fruits, ripe tannins and integrated oak; bitter chocolate and poached plum flavours are in the mix too. Tasted 2 months after being bottled, but the requisite balance is already apparent, and will guide the long-term development of the wine.  96 points James Halliday