Australian winery Hardys is celebrating its 170th anniversary with the release of The Eight, a limited-edition 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz blend.
It is limited to only 2,004 bottles and is now available in Sydney and Melbourne airport retail and through Hardys’ website for an RRP of US$250.
The company said that this new expression is crafted to capture the essence of Australia’s diverse terroir.
The Eight is produced through what is described as a meticulous selection process, featuring a blend of parcels from three esteemed vineyards – Frankland River, McLaren Vale, and Coonawarra – which contributes to the wine’s complexity.
As its name suggests, the wine is crafted from eight select barrels. 
Hardys Winemaker Helen McCarthy said: “This wine epitomises our tireless pursuit of excellence. By meticulously handpicking the finest grapes from three iconic regions, we have created a wine that harmoniously combines their unique attributes.
“The Eight is a testament to the immense potential of Australian wines and an experience that will delight wine enthusiasts around the world.”
McCarthy added: “It is a wine of outstanding dark fruit intensity, concentration, structure, and length that will continue to develop complexity for decades.”
Offering what is described as an exquisite balance of flavours, the Cabernet Sauvignon brings elegant structure and refined tannins, while the Shiraz adds depth, richness and a hint of spice. The result is a blend of complex layers of dark fruits, subtle notes of chocolate and a lingering, velvety finish.
TASTING NOTES
Grape Variety
Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz
Colour
Deep purple with bright crimson hues
Nose
Powerful and lifted aromas of dark bramble fruit, blackberry, plum and mulberry with secondary notes of liquorice, dark chocolate, charred meats, peat, black olive, cola and vanilla bean.
Palate
A wine of incredible density, vibrancy and power with layers of rich dark berry fruit, dark chocolate, peppercorn and sweet spice. Fleshy, lush and flavoursome with layers of fine velvety tannin, this is a wine of remarkable complexity, balance and persistence.
Alc/Vol: 14.43%
Vineyard Region
Frankland River (47%)
McLaren Vale (44%)
Coonawarra (9%)✈
