2022 Hatch Vesey Shiraz

Chris Hatcher, affectionately known as Hatch, has been a winemaker for almost 50 years including more than 35 years at Wolf Blass where he picked up numerous awards including the Jimmy Watson Trophy and three time IWSC international winemaker of the year. Having recently retired from the corporate winemaking scene Hatch has embarked on his own personal venture for which his first releases have received widespread critical acclaim.
A blend of several vineyards across the Mclaren Vale region, Vesey takes its name from Chris Hatcher’s great-grandfather Alf Vesey who started winemaking at Penfolds in 1883. He worked at Magill for an amazing 69 years and was the Master Winemaker for 47 of those years during which time he famously mentored Max Schubert, the creator of Penfolds Grange.
Matured for 18 months in 59% French oak (11.9% new) and 41% American oak (20.1% new). Magnificent colour featuring an impenetrable inky black heart and a deep dark red black hue. Exuberant ripe blackberry, liquorice, dark plum and mocha aromas waft through the nostrils followed by chocolatey vanillin oak, hints of blueberry and spice notes. Rich opulent blackberry, liquorice and dark plum fruits engulf the mouth with terrific concentration and textural density. Plush, silky feel with notions of blueberry, spicy vanillin oak, subtle mocha and spicy earth adding further interest. Outstanding power and polish with a cashmere like feel to the tannins. Concludes very long, highly seductive and luxurious.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.5%

Other Reviews…..
A thoroughly delicious full and generous Shiraz sourced from McLaren Vale. Has the plump middle palate of the region with finely balanced oak and supporting tannins gently cuddling it through to a long pleasing finish. Loads of spicy plummy fruit with a little liqueur chocolate adding further detail. Excellent wine with structure and poise. Drink 2023-2037.
96 Points
Ray Jordan – WinePilot.com

This wine was named for Chris Hatcher’s great-grandfather, Alf Vesey. Alf started working at Penfolds way back in 1883 and continued on for an incredible 69 years. Of those 69 years, he was their Master Winemaker for 47 of them. While he was there, he mentored a young bloke who went on to do okay – Max Schubert. The fruit for this wine was fermented on skins in small open top fermenters, for five to ten days. A dense vibrant purple, the wine has gorgeous aromas which simply leap from the glass. Blueberries, mocha, spices, coffee beans, dark chocolate and bay leaves. This is rich and ripe and more chocolate flavours emerge on the palate. Generous in style, indeed opulent, with a seductive and soft texture, silky tannins and a long, lingering finish. Notes of coffee grinds and dry herbs then emerge towards the end of the palate. This will easily age and improve for eight to twelve years. Love it. Drink 2023-2035.
96 Points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.com

Alf Vesey, the great-grandfather of winemaker Chris Hatcher, was the master winemaker at Penfolds for 47 years and a mentor to a young, aspiring winemaker called Max Schubert. The Vesey is a plump, plummy, instantly appealing wine with ripe Doris plum, blackberry and cassis tones with hints of layered fruitcake spice, those little bottle-shaped liquor chocolate things, licorice, earth and roasting meats with fine, sandy tannin grip and an extended draw on the finish. Drink by 2035.
95 Points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion