Description
Hahndorf Hill’s six-hectare vineyard is located at the edge of historic Hahndorf village and on the slopes of a gentle hill which, over a century ago, contained a slate quarry. It is very apparent when walking along the slopes of the vineyard blocks at Hahndorf Hill that slate forms a significant part of the mineral component of the soils.
The vineyard topsoils consist of a sandy-loam and red-clay blend, richly embellished with blue-red slate, quartz and ironstone intrusions. The subsoils comprise deep red clay. This abundance of diverse mineral components in the soil translates into a distinct mineral element in all their wines, which is especially beneficial for their Austrian varieties – such as Gruner Veltliner – at which they excel and have pioneered over the past 25 years.
The Adelaide Hills’ slow ripening, cool-climate environment allows for all their grapes to benefit from an extended ripening season with beautifully warm days and cold nights. This diurnal variation is a significant quality defining factor according to producers of these varieties in their native Austria. Hahndorf Hill believe in environmentally sustainable methods to bring out the finesse and vitality in their wines.
Their debut vintage of Gruner Veltliner (which they affectionately call “Gru”) was the first production of Gruner in South Australia. Huon Hooke of the SMH wrote of the debut vintage: ‘I was shocked by how authentic an Adelaide Hills gruner veltliner tasted. It’s a strikingly close replica of the Austrian model.’ Since then, their Gruners have been awarded numerous Gold Medals as well as three Trophies within Australia, with this wine being awarded 97 points by James Halliday. Commenting on the Gruner Veltliner journey, James Halliday wrote: ‘2010 marked the first release of a South Australian gruner veltliner and Hahndorf Hill has led the way ever since.’
The HHW Gru has been making waves on the international stage, too. Austria’s influential Falstaff magazine rated their 2012 Gru as the best Gruner Veltliner outside of Austria in its 2013 International Gruner Veltliner Tasting. (It topped 28 other Gruners from Europe, USA, New Zealand and Australia.) They have also received Gold Medals at the Berliner Wein Trophy competition in Germany, and the 2015 vintage was selected to represent Australia at the prestigious Six Nations Wine Challenge, where it was awarded a Double-Gold Medal.
Notes from the winemaker about this wine. “At Hahndorf Hill we produce four different styles of Gruner, of which Gru is our classic style. Our previous vintages of Gru Gruner Veltliner have been highly awarded, including the 2019 Gru Gruner Veltliner, which was rated the best Gruner Veltliner at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2020, and also the 2020 vintage which was the top-rated Gruner Veltliner at the London Wine Competition 2021. Now try this beautiful 2023 vintage with its perfumed nose of nectarine, peach and lime peel. The palate explodes with ruby grapefruit, guava, sliced pear and spice – all swirling in a juicy acidity. This wine has a long, flavoursome finish with exciting layers of delicious texture and spice. Perfectly matched with all Asian cuisine, white meats, seafoods and vegetarian dishes. But most excitingly, here is the ultimate white wine that will match perfectly with your favourite rare sirloin steak! Gruner Veltliner is a variety that ages well and this wine should develop splendidly for between 8 – 10 years.”
Trophy + Gold Medal – Australian & New Zealand Boutique Wine Show 2023
Double Gold Medal – Global Fine Wine Challenge 2023
Gold Medal – Royal Hobart Wine Show 2023
Review of 2022:
96 Points – James Halliday’s Top 100 Wines 2022, The Weekend Australian “A very complex wine with a starting point of six clones, each hand picked over three dates, with three very different vinification pathways. Some crushed with three-day skin contact and cultured yeast; some crushed and full solids, juice wild fermented in old barriques; and a third parcel cool fermented in stainless steel with cultured yeast, then matured in oak large and small. The final blended wine has a distinct swish of perfume and cinnamon spice on the bouquet; the palate is mouth-filling to begin, but then swells aromatically to the finish and lingering aftertaste.”
RRP $38 Our Special Price $28.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine
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