Hay Shed Hill World Series Malbec 2021

Tasting Notes

• Colour: Inky, deep purple with brooding intensity
• Aromatics: Dark plums, blackcurrant, black olive tapenade, tobacco and baking-spice underbrush
• Palate: Full-bodied and textured – blackberry and black cherry lead the way, underpinned by dark chocolate, espresso and dried herbs. The tannins are softly integrated yet firm, carrying a long, sumptuous finish with elegance and depth.

Winemaker’s Note

“Despite the weather challenges of 2021, our dry-grown vines delivered fruit with power and character. By embracing whole-bunch inclusion and open fermentation, we’ve created a Malbec that retains freshness while offering the savoury depth, colour and structure this variety is known for in France.”

Viticulture & Winemaking

🔹 Vintage: 2021 
🔹 Variety: 100% Malbec 
🔹 Region: Margaret River
🔹 Vineyard & Farming: Dry-grown, unirrigated vines benefiting from a wet winter and mild spring followed by careful harvest timing. 
🔹 Fermentation: Hand-harvested, open fermenters with approx. 10% whole bunches; hand-plunged 8–12 days. Pressed off and matured in 100% French oak for 12–15 months. 
🔹 Alcohol: 13.5% Alc/Vol

Sustainability & Vineyard Focus

Hay Shed Hill’s “World Series” range highlights lesser-known varieties in Australia, showcasing site expression and varietal intrigue. The 2021 Malbec is a fine example – dry-grown roots, careful parcel selection and low-intervention techniques combine to reflect both place and variety.

Storage & Serving Tips

🔹 Serving Temperature: 16–18 °C to fully showcase the depth of fruit and spice.
🔹 Decanting: 30–45 minutes recommended for optimal aromatic expression and integrated tannins.
🔹 Cellaring Potential: Excellent now, but built to age gracefully for 8–10 years or more – evolving tertiary characters while retaining fruit vibrancy.

Food Pairing

🔹 Slow-roasted lamb shoulder with rosemary & garlic – complements the rich fruit and savoury undercurrent.
🔹 Beef cheek ragù – reinforces the wine’s depth and texture.
🔹 Mature cheddar or pecorino – highlights contrast between bold flavour and structural elegance.
🔹 Braised portobello mushrooms or smoked eggplant – for a vegetarian match that honours the wine’s complexity.

FAQ Wine Terms 🧐

❓ Why Malbec in Margaret River?

It originated in the southwest of France, particularly in the Cahors region, where it’s still known as “Côt” or “Auxerrois.” Historically, it was also one of the permitted blending grapes in Bordeaux, though it gradually fell out of favour there due to its susceptibility to frost and disease.

While France is its birthplace, Argentina made Malbec famous globally – especially in Mendoza – where the variety thrived in the high-altitude Andes climate, producing richer, softer, and more fruit-driven wines compared to the firmer, more savoury French versions.

In Western Australia Malbec tends to sit stylistically between the two: vibrant and juicy like Argentina, but structured and savoury like Cahors

❓ What is “whole bunch inclusion”?
Including approx. 10% whole bunches during fermentation adds complexity, subtle herbaceous notes and enhances mouth-feel by influencing tannin and stem structure.

❓ Why “dry-grown”?
Unirrigated vines force roots to seek deeper soil levels, often promoting more concentrated flavours, strong structure and better reflection of site – traits admirably portrayed here.