Hart & Hunter: another fine Australian brand finding its way to the UK

It had escaped my attention until last week’s Australia Day Tasting that Hart & Hunter had hit these shores. Not just the wines either, for co-founder Daniel Hart is in the employ of his UK importer, Stevens Garnier.

Based on the buzz of this exceptionally well attended trade event and the apparently renewed appetite for Australian wines now exchange rates have softened, I certainly hope to see even more of the exciting wines I taste down under similarly finding their way to our shelves.

Returning to Hart & Hunter, I first came across the brand at fellow Hunter Valley producer Andrew Thomas’ excellent Semillon Masterclass during the week long Landmark Tutorial in Australia, 2010. Hart & Hunter had hit the ground running that year with their first wine, Hart & Hunter Single Vineyard Oakey Creek Semillon 2010. It scooped two trophies in the 2010 Hunter Valley Wine Show before it was even released – my review from the Landmark Tutorial.

It was good to catch up with the latest 2013 release, also to taste The Hill Shiraz. I was less taken with Twenty Six Rows Chardonnay 2013 which, although it plainly follows the same commendable philosophy of early picking and ultra-sensitive winemaking, seemed relatively under-powered. Perhaps it just needs time to put on some flesh?

Hart & Hunter Oakley Creek Semillon 2013 (Hunter Valley)

All Hart & Hunter’s wines are sourced from the prestigious Pokolbin area in the Lower Hunter Valley, this one from the 50 year old Oakey Creek vineyard. Weighing in at just 10.5% abv, the fruit was harvested very early by hand on 31st January 2013, just before a major storm blew in. Post-ferment, the wine was left to settle on gross lees for a period of time to encourage additional complexity and depth of flavour. It’s very pale, almost water white! The nose reveals lifted kaffir lime which follows through on the palate which has a tight, pithy, grapefruity focus. Long, persistent. Very good; really clean, crisp and bright, with the Hunter’s hallmark subtle intensity.

Currently only available wholesale via Stevens Garnier with an RRP of £17.49

Hart & Hunter The Hill Shiraz 2012 (Hunter Valley)

I like the Hunter’s mid-weight style, which can draw comparisons with Pinot Noir or, as in this case, have an Italianate sour cherry/plum character. This is an early picked, vibrant, brightly coloured and fruited Shiraz. The oak is clearly very deftly judged (ditto the use of sun dried stems) because its fruit expression is very pure and fresh (100% natural acidity), with youthful blackcurrant, sour cherry and plum. A lovely, quite distinctive style of Shiraz.

Currently only available wholesale via Stevens Garnier, RRP: £19.99