I have written before about my enthusiasm for Australia’s red wines from 2004, a vintage that will certainly rate as one of the finest in the history of this country. Hardy’s, a company that has shown considerable promise with its reds without actually cracking the big time, has taken a huge leap forward with its 2004 reds, which were assembled under the guidance of the very talented Paul Lapsley. Lapsley is a winemaker who understands that it is indeed possible to create wines of intense flavours and incredible mouthfeel wihtout sacrificing elegance, balance and longevity. The 2004s are a credit to him and his team. Most of the 2004 reds from Hardys have yet to be released, so the notes I have added to the site simply give you an indication of what you might like to try and buy once they’re available. It’s interesting to note that the Thomas Hardy Cabernet Sauvignon, which is intended to represent the company’s best cabernet of any given year, is entirely sourced from Margaret River, and comes across as a classic example of why this region’s cabernet is perhaps the most sought-after in Australia today. The notes also include an advance preview of several wines of which Lapsley is justifiably proud, especially the new collection of individual vineyard and sub-regional shirazes under the Tintara label. These wines, each of which is distinctly different and displays its own personality, will ultimately add to our understanding of sub-regional differences in McLaren Vale. And in that sort of knowledge is the future for Australian red. View the current tasting notes for these wines here, or simply click on the tasting notes tab in the side menu.
