Technical Tasting Notes

2024 ESTATE ‘FIELD BLEND’ BLOCK 8

GROWING SEASON
The dry winter and spring made the vines work during the early part of the growing season, and bud burst started in September, three weeks earlier than the year before. Damaging frosts particularly, in September and October meant some vineyards had significant damage that influenced their subsequent yield. Veraison in many vineyards was a month earlier than 2023. Whites ripened quickly, retaining good fragrance and natural acids early. Reds, with small berries, show intensity and vibrancy. An unseasonal heatwave in early March caused short-lived concern for growers, but for those grapes that were still hanging they recovered well in the cooler weather that followed. Depending on site and variety, crops are anywhere between 50 and 90% of normal.

TASTING NOTE
Block 8 of our Estate Vineyard consists of interplanted Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro vines. The Vineyard was planted in 1948 and is Certified Organic and Certified Sustainable.. This is a true field blend, picked, fermented and barrel aged as a blend of the 3 red varieties that we grow in Stone Well.

A classic Barossa blend that carries the hallmarks of our special patch of old vines in Stone Well in an exceptional vintage. The wine is bright, lifted florals, red fruits, with a medium bodied pallet supported by fine tannins. A wine that is drinking very well on release and will continue to do so for many years.

SPECIFICATIONS
Region: Barossa Valley
Sub Region: Stone Well

Variety: Grenache, Mataro, Shiraz
Alcohol: 14.7%
Production: 1300 bottles
Cellaring: 5 years+
Winemaker: Andrew Seppelt

Download Technical Tasting Notes 2024 Vintage ➝

Download Technical Tasting Notes 2023 Vintage ➝

Download Technical Tasting Notes 2022 Vintage ➝

Download Technical Tasting Notes 2021 Vintage ➝

Download Technical Tasting Notes 2019 Vintage ➝

Download Technical Tasting Notes 2018 Vintage ➝

Reviews

2023 Estate Field Blend

Not Yet Reviewed

2023 Estate Field Blend

Steve Leszczynski (Qwinereviews.com)

93 Points - A field blend in every sense, Grenache, Mataro and Shiraz were randomly interplanted in the 1940s. This Hayes Family Wines Block 8 is vibrant and seductive - it's just a beautiful drink. Coming off certified organic vines that run east to west on the side of a hill, there is no topsoil with gravelly loam over white clay. It sees third use French oak for nine months to ensure that the fruit takes centre stage - and it does.

Give this some air and it will pay you back in spades. An array of raspberries, blueberries, mulberries and red plums rush to appease you. Dried petals, scents of dirt road and a fine sheet of soft woodsy spices complete a delicate picture. Despite the prettiness, the alluring depth hugs every curve in the mouth and lingers fabulously. It's the sip slow type that will evaporate sooner than you realise - big love!

Drink to five years+

2022 Estate Field Blend

Not Reviewed

2021 Estate Field Blend

Not Reviewed

2020 Estate Field Blend

Not Released

2019 Estate Field Blend

2021 Wine Companion (James Halliday)

96 Points - A true field blend, grown on the family's organic estate vineyard on the Western ridge. Vivid, deep crimson-purple, this is a luscious wine of great quality, black and red fruits swapping places with purple, ripe tannins adding a dimension. 75 dozen made.

2018 Estate GSM (Field Blend)

2020 Wine Companion (James Halliday)

95 Points - From old vines on the estate vineyard at Stone Well, matured for 9 months in second-use barriques. With its mix of red, purple and blue fruits, it has a fragrant palate. The blend generates synergy, pushing all the fruit flavours forward, yet not exerting obvious energy to do so, and deflecting the tannins.

Drink by: 2038

WINEFRONT

94 Points - Yet another new producer for me, though not for The Wine Front. Red and black fruits, almond meal, spice, earth and a little liquorice. Medium-bodied, fine sure tannin, slight savoury edge to spicy berries, cool acidity, some dried mint and coal on a long balanced finish. Excellent.

Huon Hooke (huonhooke.com)

92 Points - eep red/purple colour with a pepper, spice, meaty and dark berry bouquet, some blackberry and raspberry nuances, the palate rich and full, soft and rounded with ample drying tannins which are soft and ripe. Almost luscious. A wine of sweet, soft, succulent fruit charm as well as structure. 19/2/2019

Drink 2019 to 2031

QWine (www.qwinereviews.com)

93 Points - If you are yet to introduce yourself to Hayes Family Wines, I suggest you do so soon. Andrew Seppelt is producing some absolutely delicious wines. This Field Blend GSM is a belter. I couldn't stop at a glass or three. And it's that quality across the range which has everything pointing in the right direction.

The fruit was handpicked and co-fermented before maturing in third use French oak for eight months.

On the heavier side of medium bodied, it's a wine which just sang to me. Raspberry brownie, liquorice bullets, flashes of clove and earth. It bounds through the mouth with fine spices sprinkled over the top and they effortlessly tickle the mouth. This is a clever wine I could drink a lot of - and I did. A winner.

Drink now to five years.

Tuesday, 12 March 2019

2017 Estate GSM (Field Blend) - Carol and Ivan's Pick

Huon Hooke (huonhooke.com)

93 Points - Deep purple/red colour with a shy, chocolaty aroma and subtle black cherry notes. The palate is rich and lush in sweet ripe fruit: medium to full-bodied and smoothly-textured, with abundant ripe tannins. A very smart wine indeed. It's lovely now and will age well for many years. 17/3/2018

Drink 2018 to 2032

2019 Wine Companion (Campbell Mattinson)

95 Points - Old vine grenache, shiraz and mataro from Stone Well. All picked into a single bin; 300 bottles (only) were produced. It's a gorgeous mid-weight wine, svelte, ripe, flowing and fine, weight here, finesse there, length to seal the deal.

Drink by: 2028

QWine (www.qwinereviews.com)

91 Points - Carol and Ivan's pick - owner Brett Hayes seems to have his parents on the snips and buckets during vintage. A family project through and through. This the first release from the Estate vineyard in Stone Well. A field blend too no less - everything tipped into one bin. Handpicked and co-fermented with 10 months in second use French oak.

Straight up and down - what you see is what you get. A delicious and approachable GSM. The fruit glides through the mouth with equal parts of red berries, earth and spice all putting the shoulder to the wheel. The balance is just right too coming in at 13.8% alc. Asian spices and a dash of bitter cocoa tickle a long finish urging another sip. Thumbs up.

Drink now to five years. 3/4/2018

Tyson Stelzer (www.tysonstelzer.com)

92 Points - The first release of a harmonious and pretty GSM from old vines of the Hayes Family estate vineyard in Stonewell, to the tune of just 300 bottles, co-fermented in a single second use French oak barrique. The lifted raspberry and strawberry fruits of grenache are supported by the black fruit depth and structure of shiraz and mataro, culminating in a long and even finish backed by finely structured tannins.

Drink 2018-2020