2022 Vintage Report
Posted 26 May 2022
McLaren Vale experienced a wet winter, but also a mild spring and summer. This created superb ripening conditions from fruit set and flowering through version and ripening. Yields, however, were slightly down across the board.
A civilised vintage created a relaxed picking environment and enabled an ideal balance of sugar ripeness, natural acidity and texture in the resulting wines.
2021 was touted ‘the best quality vintage so far this century’, but 2022 will give it a run for its money.
Kimberly Cooter - Winemaker
2021 Vintage Report
Posted 29 June 2021
The 2021 ripening season was met with our average rainfall for the first time in at least 3 vintages. Not only did McLaren Vale experience a wet winter, but also a luscious spring and a significantly cooler summer. This created magnificent ripening conditions from fruit set and flowering through version to final ripening. Yields were back up compared with the previous few vintages, coupled with arguably the best quality vintage so far this century. While vintage was long and drawn out, it created a relaxed picking environment and enabled superb balance of natural acidity, texture and tannin in the resulting wines.
Kimberly Cooter - Winemaker
Trophy Winner - 2020 Tempranillo Best Organic Wine of Show (AAVWS)
Posted 09 March 2021
Our 2020 Hedonist Tempranillo won the Tony Mangan Memorial Award for Best Organic Wine of the show at the 2020 Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show (AAVWS)!
Trophy Winner 2018 Best Grenache
Posted 02 November 2020
Our 2018 Hedonist Grenache took out the trophy for Best Grenache 2 years old or at the 2020 McLaren Vale Wine Show!
Pictured: Kimberly & James Cooter - Winemakers
The Real Review
Posted 04 February 2020
2018 Hedonist Grenache
- 90 points - therealreview.com, Huon Hooke, 31 Jan 2020
"Medium to deep red/purple colour. Fresh earth and brown spice aromas; the tannins are tight and firm and drying, the wine is medium to full-bodied and well-structured. Dried herbs. Firm finish. A keeper, and it has drinkability. (grapes certified biodynamic)"
2018 Hedonist Sangiovese
- 'Top Rank' 92 points - therealreview.com, Nick Butler, 15 Dec 2019
"Bright, dark cherry-red colour. More savoury and umami led that primary: plum sauce, mushrooms and earthy notes. Some grip and purchase to the tannins, sour cherry acidity completes the package. A quality wine."
2019 Hedonist Tempranillo
-
90 points - therealreview.com, Huon Hooke, 13 Dec 2019
"Very deep, bold purple/red colour, with pungent violet, blueberry and cranberry aromas, the palate fresh and bright, raw and primal, with an almost carbonic maceration or Beaujolais-like overtone. Excellent wine albeit in a rather raw, callow style."
James Halliday Dark Horse
Posted 09 August 2019
James Halliday Wine Companion 2020 Edition
The 2020 Wine Companion results are in and we’re pretty thrilled we've been awarded a 5-STAR winery AND named in the top '10 Dark Horses'!
2018 Hedonist Sangiovese Rosé
- 95 points - Wine Companion 2020 Edition, Jane Faulkner, 01 Aug 2019
“Pale-pastel pink with a copper tinge; sangiovese gives this its fine acid line plus flavour. It's lightly aromatic, some red berries and spice, watermelon and rind, creamy nuances but it's the savouriness that seals the deal. And it's gluggability.”
2018 Hedonist Tempranillo
- 95 points - Wine Companion 2020 Edition, Jane Faulkner, 01 Aug 2019
“A terrific tempranillo that offsets its juicy red fruit profile against layers of savouriness. It's vibrant with cherry cola, fresh tobacco, red licorice and all manner of baking spices before crunchy acidity and killer tannins take off. Impressive from go to whoa.”
2017 Hedonist Shiraz
- 95 points - Wine Companion 2020 Edition, Jane Faulkner, 01 Aug 2019
“Estate certified organic/biodynamic fruit kick-starts this excellent shiraz that's fresh, buoyant and drinkable by the bucket-load. Restraint says by the glass and as this is a restrained McLaren Vale red, fair enough. Savour the poppy, red plums and pomegranate, threads of spice, the appealing grainy tannins and more besides.”
2017 Hedonist Sangiovese
- 93 points - Wine Companion 2020 Edition, Jane Faulkner, 01 Aug 2019
“So good to come across a savoury sangiovese made without new oak. Starts with cherry, spice and roasted tomatoes doused in dried herbs; the acidity thrusting through and tannins finding their groove. Perhaps too lean on the palate but an austere style is preferable to tutti-frutti.”
2017 Hedonist Reserve Shiraz
- 93 points - Wine Companion 2020 Edition, Jane Faulkner, 01 Aug 2019
“Everything that screams McLaren Vale shiraz is in this wine. And it's done well. Rich, ripe fruit, lively and bright, laced with rosemary and mint (bordering on too much), smoky, tarry and earthy notes and all manner of oak spices. Plus wood flavours which should settle in time. Voluminous tannins strut their stuff across the full-bodied palate. The colour advancement and the herbal tone, just pings it.”
2017 Hedonist Cabernet Sauvignon
- 92 points - Wine Companion 2020 Edition, Jane Faulkner, 01 Aug 2019
“Cassis and blackberries vie for centre stage, it's a brightly fruited wine seasoned with dried herbs, oak spices and plenty of appeal.”
2019 Vintage Report
Posted 17 May 2019
A very dry winter and spring, coupled with record heat and dry conditions throughout summer led to an early and condensed vintage. Yields were only slightly down on previous years despite the challenges associated with low rainfall in the growing season. January was Australia’s warmest on record. McLaren Vale experienced record heat – 46.2 degrees Celsius on the 24 January.
The conditions lent themselves to smaller berries with good concentration of flavour.
The combination of an early start to harvest and late Easter this year meant we finished in time to relax and enjoy Easter and kick back with the family.
Kimberly Cooter - Winemaker
Lisa Johnston (Wine Muse) Review
Posted 23 October 2018
The Hedonist Shiraz 2017
October 19, 2018 - Lisa Johnston, www.winemusing.com
The Hedonist Shiraz offers many things to many people. It is made from grapes from biodynamic vineyards in McLaren Vale, a region known for its soft, juicy, immediately approachable shiraz. The Clappis family are committed to making their McLaren Vale fruit shine right across their range which is focused on red wines made not only from traditional regional treasures, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon but also tempranillo and sangiovese (including a sangiovese rosé).
In its purple hued, ruby depths you will find the typical pepper and liquorice sitting happily with red and black berry and cherry fruits. Then some cinnamon wafts along to add some depth and dimension. There is plenty of elegance to this fruit as it slinks down the palate which is fuller in body, detailed on the finish and long and lingering. I could sit down with a glass of this and a plate of venison sausages or even a chunky beef pie and be happy indeed. Whether you are after a wine that treads lightly on the ground, or should I say, vineyard, a wine that offers up the best of the McLaren Vale, or one that is simply delicious drinking for not a lot of cash, this wine gives generously indeed.
Quickie review «Juicy and plump berry fruit with a soft spice note. The Hedonist shares with a generous heart. »
Country of Origin: McLaren Vale, Australia
Tasting Date: September 2018
Price: AU $23| US $| UK £11.5
Drink: now – 5+ years
Needs food: no
Source: tasting
Trophy Winner 2018 Best Rosé
Posted 23 October 2018
Our 2018 Hedonist Sangiovese Rosé took out the trophy for Best Rosé at the 2018 Royal Melbourne Wine Show!
Here's winemaker, James Cooter collecting the Trophy.
James Halliday Wine Companion 2019 Edition
Posted 07 August 2018
2016 Hedonist Shiraz
94 points - Wine Companion 2019 Edition, James Halliday, 01 Aug 2018
"Destemmed, wild yeast open-fermented, 14 days on skins, fermentation completed in and 12 months maturation in new French oak, then a further 12 months maturation in used French oak. Deeply coloured; sophisticated winemaking has resulted in a full-bodied shiraz that will be very long lived, feeding on its balance and length, firm tannins that are nonetheless ripe one specific of its many building blocks. Gold medal International Shiraz Challenge '18 no surprise. Great value."
2016 Hedonist Cabernet Sauvignon
94 points - Wine Companion 2019 Edition, James Halliday, 01 Aug 2018
"Harvested in two batches on 29 Feb and 5 Mar, fermented separately for 8 and 27 days respectively, matured in French oak (15% new) for 18 months. Interesting wine. The length of fermentation and the gap between pickings have produced a medium-bodied, savoury wine with just a hint of minty/wintergreen, outweighed by the freshness and cassis flavours of the long palate - all in all, cool climate references."
HOT 100
Posted 17 May 2018
We delighted our 2015 Reserve Shiraz has been included in the Adelaide Review's Hot 100.
A brilliant show championing drinkability. Here's a few words on the wine from the judges:
Winner Winner
Posted 05 December 2017
Hedonist took another Gold Medal at the International Wine Challenge last week in the UK with our 2016 Shiraz. That’s back-to-back gold medals for our Shiraz at this show!
Australian Wine Companion 2018 Edition
Posted 15 August 2017
James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion 2018 Edition, 01 Aug 2017
91 points - 2016 Hedonist Sangiovese Rose
Hand-picked in the early morning, crushed, 3 hours on skins before gentle pressing, cool-fermented in stainless steel. Very pale pink; the ever-moving bouquet throws up rose petals, apricot kernels (the Clappis descriptive touchstone for the bouquet and palate) and citrus-tinged acidity on the fresh, ultra-light and dry finish.
94 points - 2015 Hedonist Tempranillo
Includes 4% grenache, open-fermented, pumped over twice daily, 10-day ferment, pressed to used French hogsheads for 10 months maturation. Although the vines are young (7yo), this suggests the site has great potential. There is truly lovely cherry fruit on the fresh light to medium-bodied palate thanks in part to the controlled alcohol; the finish has gently savoury tannins that tie the parcel up ever so neatly.
91 points - 2015 Hedonist Sangiovese
Crushed and destemmed, twice daily pumpovers for 8 days, then one daily for the next 6 weeks, 70% matured in used French hogsheads, 30% in tank, for 7 months. Neatly handled.
91 points - 2015 Hedonist Shiraz
From the estate bio-certified vineyard at Willunga, picked over 3 weeks commencing 19 Feb, open-fermented, thence to 20% new French and used French and American hogsheads for 12 months. Rich, full-bodied and full-flavoured.
2015 Hedonist Shiraz
Posted 29 June 2017
92 points - The Wine Front, Gary Walsh, 19 June 2017
"Not too familiar with this producer, but good wine in the glass. Juicy raspberry, cherry, spice and vanilla perfume. Medium bodied, again fresh and juicy, almost playful, but not without depth. Tannin is ripe and lightly chewy, acidity fresh and unobtrusive, and there’s a savoury spiced sausage thing going on as the wine closes. Great drink. So nicely turned out."
International Wine Show Accolades
Posted 01 June 2017
2015 Hedonist Shiraz
- Gold Medal - 2017 International Wine Competition
- Silver Medal - 2017 Decanter World Wine Awards - 90 points
- 92 points - Decanter Magazine (June 2017) - Alex Hunt MV, Roger Jones & Anthony Rose
2014 Hedonist Cabernet
- Bronze Medal - Decanter International Wine Show
Gold Medal
Posted 02 August 2016
The Hedonist 2012 Reserve Shiraz takes Gold at the 2016 Melbourne International Wine Competition
2016 Vintage Report
Posted 30 May 2016
McLaren Vale experienced a slightly dryer than average winter and spring in 2015. A mild November ensured the vines set well, ultimately producing some of the biggest crops in recent times. December was hot and dry. We were grateful to receive significant rain in late January/early February, as it relieved the strain on the vines.
The grapes didn’t need to reach overly ripe sugar levels for them to have good fruit characters - they are lively, bright, and elegant. The mild weather during the final ripening period provided ideal conditions for full flavour development, while retaining natural acidity.
The vines were well balanced with great colour and flavour. Our wines from the 2016 vintage exhibit a purity of fruit flavours with lovely perfume and finesse.
Kimberly Cooter - Winemaker
Hedonist takes Gold at The 2015 Great Australian Shiraz Challenge
Posted 29 October 2015
Hedonist Shiraz takes on Penfolds Grange
Posted 19 October 2015
...and the results are very intesersting!
Click here for the full story
2015 Vintage Report
Posted 20 August 2015
2015 was one of our earliest starts to vintage ever. After a wet winter and dry spring things started moving quickly in McLaren Vale.
Calm and smooth ripening prevailed after the fortunate relenting heat in January. The end of January brought with it rain, which helped to balance out the berry development and thus retaining the natural acidity. Luckily, disease pressure was low to nonexistent due to cool evenings and the strong sea breeze.
The early and quick nature of the season made it logistically challenging to manage the intake of all of the fruit, which ripened at the same time. Quality however was paramount – the Shiraz is a real standout variety from this vintage, exhibiting an abundance of vibrant red fruits and spice, with exceptional colour, richness and balance.
Kimberly Cooter - Winemaker
