Sturdily built on a chewy bed of tannins, but this impressively dark, full-bodied wine struggles to express its fruit. Plum, dark chocolate and earth flavors pick up a hint of black pepper on the finish.\n \n Producer Information\n Hardy's is a major wine brand based in South Australia. It is known for its wide range of wines, from entry-level examples to flagship releases. The brand primarily focuses on Australia's key grape varieties, including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Hardy's has a long wine producing history in Australian standards. The first vines were planted in 1854 in McLaren Vale by Thomas Hardy, an influential figure in the growth of the Australian wine industry. He was one of the first to export Australian wine, sending two hogsheads back to his native England in 1859. It 1876, Hardy's purchased the Tintara Vineyard Company and today, Tintara remains as the winery in McLaren Vale. Not long after Hardy wines became some of the first from Australia to receive international critical recognition, winning gold medals at French wine shows in 1882 and 1889. The Hardy's wine portfolio is large, encompassing various styles, grape varieties and price points. The pinnacle is the Icon, launched in celebration of the 165th Anniversary of the inaugural Hardy's vintage. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, sourced from McLaren Vale, Frankland River and the Coonawarra. Hardy's established the wine company Thomas Hardy and Sons, which has today become the major international wine conglomerate Accolade. Hardy's remains its own brand within Accolade's portfolio.
