1988 Hanging Rock Heathcote Shiraz

A tough year, a lack of rain and heatwaves meant it was an early vintage that produced wines of lower alcohol. The vintage conditions and time shows a wine that is more austere than some of the other old Hanging Rock releases.

The colour is brick red with browning, there is some plum fruit that’s shrouded in bracken, iodine and a touch of barnyard.

The palate shows a wine that is very much in a secondary stage with lean, earthen fruit finding it hard work against tangy acidity. Will hold as is but won’t improve with additional time.