2022 Single Vineyard Hexham Nebbiolo
Perfumed raspberry and violets are balanced by earthy undertones. Rich on the palate with silky tannins and a long, complex finish. A beautiful example of Yarra Valley Nebbiolo!
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[2020 Vintage] – 86 Points | Bronze Medal at 2023 Yarra Valley Wine Show
[2020 Vintage] – 92 Points | Silver Medal at 2023 International Cool Climate Wine Show
[2019 Vintage] – 95 Points | Gold Medal plus Trophy for Best Alternative Variety Domestic and International at 2022 International Cool Climate Wine Show
[2017 Vintage] – 90 Points by Mike Bennie, The Winefront, March 2021
[2017 Vintage] – 94 Points by Campbell Mattinson, Halliday Wine Companion 2021
[2017 Vintage] – 91 Points by Nick Butler, The Real Review March 2020
[2016 Vintage] – 5 Stars by Winestate Magazine Aug/Sept 2020
[2016 Vintage] – 91 Points by James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion 2020
[2016 Vintage] – Bronze Medal at 2018 Decanter World Wine Awards
[2016 Vintage] – Bronze Medal at 2018 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards
[2015 Vintage] – 90 Points by James Halliday 2018 Wine Companion
[2015 Vintage] – 96 Points & #1 2015 Nebbiolo in Australia by Huon Hooke
[2015 Vintage] – Gold Medal at 2017 Victorian Wine Show
[2015 Vintage] – Bronze Medal at 2017 Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show
[2015 Vintage] – Silver Medal at 2017 Melbourne International Wine Competition
“Sourced from a north-west-facing slope, where the fruit ripens slowly before being handpicked and fermented on skins for 100 days in tank, then matured in seasoned puncheons for two years. This is a striking expression of Nebbiolo, showing strong varietal fidelity and structural integrity. The nose is lifted and alluring—Bing cherry and dried violets lead, followed by red liquorice, cinnamon quill, pressed rose, tar, and a savoury bite of blood orange. It’s unmistakably Nebbiolo from the first sniff. The palate is svelte yet intense, with a cool lift to its red-fruited core—cherry, redcurrant and rose petal hover over notes of black tea, terracotta and earth. The tannins are superb: fine, powdery, and laced with black tea bitterness, forming a firm but well-integrated frame that carries the wine to long, savoury length. This lands confidently in quality Langhe territory. A seriously well-executed local expression.” 94 Points by Tom Kline at Wine Pilot (2022 Vintage)
“This is an outstanding example of an Australian adaptation of this famous Piedmont variety. Several different clones have been planted on a north-western slope to allow plenty of time for the fruit to ripen, and after hand picking, the wines are left on skins for up to at least 100 days, where the important role of allowing the tannins, a sometimes difficult aspect to manage, to soften and integrate. The result is a medium-bodied wine with a light crimson colour and a beautiful bouquet of bright red fruits, rose petals and a slightly tarry character which is part of the varietal mix. The wine has an excellent palate profile with the oak, which is seasoned 500 litre puncheons, neatly integrated and perfectly in harmony with the fruit and the tannins, which although softer are still firmish, providing what you want in Nebbiolo, which is structure. An excellent example of this variety from the Yarra Valley.” 94 Points by Ray Jordan at Wine Pilot (2022 Vintage)
“Savoury and aromatic. This wine reminds me of laying bricks with my father as a child. Red brick dust, strawberry wine, clove, pink peppercorn, and a single dried cranberry. It has all the Nebbiolo charm and cleverness you’d expect. I enjoyed the tango between tart, lush, and mineral. That, and the salivating response. The tannins are fine and chalky, but in abundance. It’s structured, lifted, and just plush enough. Drink with fatty salami.” 92 Points by Cyndal Petty at Wine Pilot (2022 Vintage)
"We’re not often impressed by Australian Nebbiolo, but this one captured our attention. The fresh red berry aroma shows a hint of rose petal, and the generous fruit is matched by powdery, firm, but balanced tannins." WineWise, October 2024 (2021 Vintage)
“This address is becoming a player in the local Nebbiolo scene, by far the finest outside of northern Italy. Maraschino cherry, porcini, sandalwood, tamarind and licorice root. Fuller weighted. A little sweet, to be churlish. But the tannins are true, the acid revitalizing and the finish sappy and moreish. Drink or hold. 92 Points”
Ned Goodwin, jamessuckling.com, December 2023 (2020 Vintage)
“The nose shows some warmth but the palate is faithful to the variety, both in shape and in flavour. Red cherries, autumn leaves, roses and rust-like notes get the job done in dry, light-weight style. There’s a grainy element to the tannin, which works well, and a rustiness to the aftertaste, which also works. 89+ Points”
Campbell Mattinson, winefront.com.au, October 2023 (2020 Vintage)
“With its hot but short summers tempered by cool nights, the Yarra Valley has proved a great choice for Nebbiolo. This expression has very lifted and perfumed aromas of sarsaparilla, black cherry, bay leaf, bergamot and toasty oak. It shows fabulous concentration yet remains elegant, with fleshy red berry core depth, notes of earth, dried herb and rooibos tea, crunchy tannins and savoury oak to finish.”
Stuart Knox for Wine Selectors, August 2021 (2017 Vintage)
“Dark berries, kirsch, cedary wood (quite strong), earthy, sage and dill notes – big perfume. Flavours are strong too, robust, woody spice, dark berries, maraschino, mushroom and ashy notes. Dries out quickly to the finish. Pushing into dry red characters, and quite brutish in its approach, though some will appreciate that. Quite one speed. 90 Points.”
Mike Bennie, The Winefront, Mar 2021 (2017 Vintage)
“Delightful light red in colour, alluring aromas of rose petals, florals and a hint of tobacco leaf, gorgeous palate with stacks of red berry flavours & a tight grippy but subtle finish- A great food wine. SUPERB!!”
Dan Traucki, Mar 2021 (2017 Vintage)
“The classic Italian grape of Barolo and Barbaresco is given an Australian makeover with this Yarra Valley red, from Soumah’s Hexham vineyard, with its distinctive rose and savoury characters, a touch of violet and tobacco leaf, with long, fine firm tannins which belie its pale colour. This is definitely one to cellar for five years or more, at which stage it should be a lovely match for Mediterranean style lamb dishes. 95 Points.”
Mike Frost, Mar 2021 (2017 Vintage)
“Deepish tawny-red colour with no purple remaining. The bouquet is oaky: toasty-cedary, with a dried animal-skin undertone. The palate is medium to full-bodied with very drying tannins. Firm finish that lingers on well. A good wine, albeit rather stern and a little forbidding. More time needed, perhaps. Or at least, hearty food with lots of protein in it. 91 Points.”
Huon Hooke, The Real Review, Feb 2021 (2017 Vintage)
“It’s one of the more impressive wines in the Soumah range. It tastes Australian but it also tastes varietal, a tick for both, with leather, rose, black cherry and woodsy spice notes aided by smoky/spicy oak. Tannin is firm and forceful but not hard; length is satisfying. 94 Points.”
Campbell Mattinson, Halliday Wine Companion, August 2020 (2017 Vintage)
“Pale, though still bright garnet-red colour. Dried red roses, spicky oak, bitumen on a road-melting day. Tightly-wound and youthful, red fruits peeling off a core of tannins and spice. Loads of promise. Needs time. 91 Points.”
Nick Butler, The Real Review, March 2020 (2017 Vintage)
“A fragrant complexity of red fruits, licorice and roses and an elegant palate that is silky smooth in the mouth with good firm tannins. Drinking very well now. 5 Stars.”
Winestate Magazine, Aug/Sept 2020 (2016 Vintage)
“Estate-grown, hand-picked, fermented in tank, 100 days on skins post-ferment, thence to used puncheons for 18 months. Yes, it’s savoury, and the tannins, although fine, are insistent. On the plus side are the aromas of violets, dark spices and tar. 91 Points.”
James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion, 2019 (2016 Vintage)
“Typically pale nebbiolo colour. Subdued scents of dried cherries, dried flowers and fresh blossom, touched by a lick of tarry varietal character make an interesting nose. It has succulent balance of high-toned varietal flavours that flow into a great wall of layered tannins. The tannins are big, but they don’t knock the wine out of equilibrium. 90 Points.”
Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Real Review, May 2019 (2016 Vintage)
“Lopes singled this out for high praise noting its expressive nose of “fern, savoury herbs, and dried red fruit.” She found it the “most herbaceous and green” of her picks, and remarked on its “ferrous, ironstone quality.” Altmann found it “Fine and fragrant, with some oak spice of nutmeg, sandalwood, mizunara [Japanese oak]. Cranberry and briar.” Canala said that “It’s got some presence on the palate too, fleshy acidity and quite big, flavoursome tannins. Kind of guttural, but delicious in that way.” While Lopes called it a “Serious wine with great length and structure.””
Young Gun of Wine, Spotlight on Nebbiolo/Blind Tasting, Aug 2019 [2016 Vintage]
“Lifted fragrant herbal/floral aromas and light tannin texture to the earthy fruit palate.”
2018 WINESTATE Emerging Varietal Awards – 3/5 stars [2016 Vintage]
“Medium to deep ruby-red colour with little purple tint remaining, the bouquet is nutty and rather brazil-nutty. Violets and dark fruits as well. The wine is full-bodied and dense, rich and high-extract. A weighty, concentrated nebbiolo. Very tannic and chewy and powerful. Plenty of oak but it’s harmonised. Impressive. A touch of licorice, almost an overripe element. A big wine, no shortage of concentration or tannin extraction. Long carry. Authentic nebbiolo, utterly convincing. Really quite spectacular.”
Huon Hooke – 96 points [2015 Vintage]
2022 VINTAGE
Winter was half a degree warmer than the 25-year average. Although vines were still dormant, bud burst was earlier than average. Spring saw 100mm more rain than normal and unsettled weather around Melbourne Cup saw poor flowering and fruit set. This significantly lowered the crop by reducing bunches and making them smaller. Even though summer was hotter than normal high rainfall in January meant no excessive heat spikes. Overall, a wetter and hotter year, with low yield meant a small but high-quality crop.
[2020 Vintage] – 86 Points | Bronze Medal at 2023 Yarra Valley Wine Show
[2020 Vintage] – 92 Points | Silver Medal at 2023 International Cool Climate Wine Show
[2019 Vintage] – 95 Points | Gold Medal plus Trophy for Best Alternative Variety Domestic and International at 2022 International Cool Climate Wine Show
[2017 Vintage] – 90 Points by Mike Bennie, The Winefront, March 2021
[2017 Vintage] – 94 Points by Campbell Mattinson, Halliday Wine Companion 2021
[2017 Vintage] – 91 Points by Nick Butler, The Real Review March 2020
[2016 Vintage] – 5 Stars by Winestate Magazine Aug/Sept 2020
[2016 Vintage] – 91 Points by James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion 2020
[2016 Vintage] – Bronze Medal at 2018 Decanter World Wine Awards
[2016 Vintage] – Bronze Medal at 2018 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards
[2015 Vintage] – 90 Points by James Halliday 2018 Wine Companion
[2015 Vintage] – 96 Points & #1 2015 Nebbiolo in Australia by Huon Hooke
[2015 Vintage] – Gold Medal at 2017 Victorian Wine Show
[2015 Vintage] – Bronze Medal at 2017 Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show
[2015 Vintage] – Silver Medal at 2017 Melbourne International Wine Competition
“Sourced from a north-west-facing slope, where the fruit ripens slowly before being handpicked and fermented on skins for 100 days in tank, then matured in seasoned puncheons for two years. This is a striking expression of Nebbiolo, showing strong varietal fidelity and structural integrity. The nose is lifted and alluring—Bing cherry and dried violets lead, followed by red liquorice, cinnamon quill, pressed rose, tar, and a savoury bite of blood orange. It’s unmistakably Nebbiolo from the first sniff. The palate is svelte yet intense, with a cool lift to its red-fruited core—cherry, redcurrant and rose petal hover over notes of black tea, terracotta and earth. The tannins are superb: fine, powdery, and laced with black tea bitterness, forming a firm but well-integrated frame that carries the wine to long, savoury length. This lands confidently in quality Langhe territory. A seriously well-executed local expression.” 94 Points by Tom Kline at Wine Pilot (2022 Vintage)
“This is an outstanding example of an Australian adaptation of this famous Piedmont variety. Several different clones have been planted on a north-western slope to allow plenty of time for the fruit to ripen, and after hand picking, the wines are left on skins for up to at least 100 days, where the important role of allowing the tannins, a sometimes difficult aspect to manage, to soften and integrate. The result is a medium-bodied wine with a light crimson colour and a beautiful bouquet of bright red fruits, rose petals and a slightly tarry character which is part of the varietal mix. The wine has an excellent palate profile with the oak, which is seasoned 500 litre puncheons, neatly integrated and perfectly in harmony with the fruit and the tannins, which although softer are still firmish, providing what you want in Nebbiolo, which is structure. An excellent example of this variety from the Yarra Valley.” 94 Points by Ray Jordan at Wine Pilot (2022 Vintage)
“Savoury and aromatic. This wine reminds me of laying bricks with my father as a child. Red brick dust, strawberry wine, clove, pink peppercorn, and a single dried cranberry. It has all the Nebbiolo charm and cleverness you’d expect. I enjoyed the tango between tart, lush, and mineral. That, and the salivating response. The tannins are fine and chalky, but in abundance. It’s structured, lifted, and just plush enough. Drink with fatty salami.” 92 Points by Cyndal Petty at Wine Pilot (2022 Vintage)
"We’re not often impressed by Australian Nebbiolo, but this one captured our attention. The fresh red berry aroma shows a hint of rose petal, and the generous fruit is matched by powdery, firm, but balanced tannins." WineWise, October 2024 (2021 Vintage)
“This address is becoming a player in the local Nebbiolo scene, by far the finest outside of northern Italy. Maraschino cherry, porcini, sandalwood, tamarind and licorice root. Fuller weighted. A little sweet, to be churlish. But the tannins are true, the acid revitalizing and the finish sappy and moreish. Drink or hold. 92 Points”
Ned Goodwin, jamessuckling.com, December 2023 (2020 Vintage)
“The nose shows some warmth but the palate is faithful to the variety, both in shape and in flavour. Red cherries, autumn leaves, roses and rust-like notes get the job done in dry, light-weight style. There’s a grainy element to the tannin, which works well, and a rustiness to the aftertaste, which also works. 89+ Points”
Campbell Mattinson, winefront.com.au, October 2023 (2020 Vintage)
“With its hot but short summers tempered by cool nights, the Yarra Valley has proved a great choice for Nebbiolo. This expression has very lifted and perfumed aromas of sarsaparilla, black cherry, bay leaf, bergamot and toasty oak. It shows fabulous concentration yet remains elegant, with fleshy red berry core depth, notes of earth, dried herb and rooibos tea, crunchy tannins and savoury oak to finish.”
Stuart Knox for Wine Selectors, August 2021 (2017 Vintage)
“Dark berries, kirsch, cedary wood (quite strong), earthy, sage and dill notes – big perfume. Flavours are strong too, robust, woody spice, dark berries, maraschino, mushroom and ashy notes. Dries out quickly to the finish. Pushing into dry red characters, and quite brutish in its approach, though some will appreciate that. Quite one speed. 90 Points.”
Mike Bennie, The Winefront, Mar 2021 (2017 Vintage)
“Delightful light red in colour, alluring aromas of rose petals, florals and a hint of tobacco leaf, gorgeous palate with stacks of red berry flavours & a tight grippy but subtle finish- A great food wine. SUPERB!!”
Dan Traucki, Mar 2021 (2017 Vintage)
“The classic Italian grape of Barolo and Barbaresco is given an Australian makeover with this Yarra Valley red, from Soumah’s Hexham vineyard, with its distinctive rose and savoury characters, a touch of violet and tobacco leaf, with long, fine firm tannins which belie its pale colour. This is definitely one to cellar for five years or more, at which stage it should be a lovely match for Mediterranean style lamb dishes. 95 Points.”
Mike Frost, Mar 2021 (2017 Vintage)
“Deepish tawny-red colour with no purple remaining. The bouquet is oaky: toasty-cedary, with a dried animal-skin undertone. The palate is medium to full-bodied with very drying tannins. Firm finish that lingers on well. A good wine, albeit rather stern and a little forbidding. More time needed, perhaps. Or at least, hearty food with lots of protein in it. 91 Points.”
Huon Hooke, The Real Review, Feb 2021 (2017 Vintage)
“It’s one of the more impressive wines in the Soumah range. It tastes Australian but it also tastes varietal, a tick for both, with leather, rose, black cherry and woodsy spice notes aided by smoky/spicy oak. Tannin is firm and forceful but not hard; length is satisfying. 94 Points.”
Campbell Mattinson, Halliday Wine Companion, August 2020 (2017 Vintage)
“Pale, though still bright garnet-red colour. Dried red roses, spicky oak, bitumen on a road-melting day. Tightly-wound and youthful, red fruits peeling off a core of tannins and spice. Loads of promise. Needs time. 91 Points.”
Nick Butler, The Real Review, March 2020 (2017 Vintage)
“A fragrant complexity of red fruits, licorice and roses and an elegant palate that is silky smooth in the mouth with good firm tannins. Drinking very well now. 5 Stars.”
Winestate Magazine, Aug/Sept 2020 (2016 Vintage)
“Estate-grown, hand-picked, fermented in tank, 100 days on skins post-ferment, thence to used puncheons for 18 months. Yes, it’s savoury, and the tannins, although fine, are insistent. On the plus side are the aromas of violets, dark spices and tar. 91 Points.”
James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion, 2019 (2016 Vintage)
“Typically pale nebbiolo colour. Subdued scents of dried cherries, dried flowers and fresh blossom, touched by a lick of tarry varietal character make an interesting nose. It has succulent balance of high-toned varietal flavours that flow into a great wall of layered tannins. The tannins are big, but they don’t knock the wine out of equilibrium. 90 Points.”
Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Real Review, May 2019 (2016 Vintage)
“Lopes singled this out for high praise noting its expressive nose of “fern, savoury herbs, and dried red fruit.” She found it the “most herbaceous and green” of her picks, and remarked on its “ferrous, ironstone quality.” Altmann found it “Fine and fragrant, with some oak spice of nutmeg, sandalwood, mizunara [Japanese oak]. Cranberry and briar.” Canala said that “It’s got some presence on the palate too, fleshy acidity and quite big, flavoursome tannins. Kind of guttural, but delicious in that way.” While Lopes called it a “Serious wine with great length and structure.””
Young Gun of Wine, Spotlight on Nebbiolo/Blind Tasting, Aug 2019 [2016 Vintage]
“Lifted fragrant herbal/floral aromas and light tannin texture to the earthy fruit palate.”
2018 WINESTATE Emerging Varietal Awards – 3/5 stars [2016 Vintage]
“Medium to deep ruby-red colour with little purple tint remaining, the bouquet is nutty and rather brazil-nutty. Violets and dark fruits as well. The wine is full-bodied and dense, rich and high-extract. A weighty, concentrated nebbiolo. Very tannic and chewy and powerful. Plenty of oak but it’s harmonised. Impressive. A touch of licorice, almost an overripe element. A big wine, no shortage of concentration or tannin extraction. Long carry. Authentic nebbiolo, utterly convincing. Really quite spectacular.”
Huon Hooke – 96 points [2015 Vintage]
2022 VINTAGE
Winter was half a degree warmer than the 25-year average. Although vines were still dormant, bud burst was earlier than average. Spring saw 100mm more rain than normal and unsettled weather around Melbourne Cup saw poor flowering and fruit set. This significantly lowered the crop by reducing bunches and making them smaller. Even though summer was hotter than normal high rainfall in January meant no excessive heat spikes. Overall, a wetter and hotter year, with low yield meant a small but high-quality crop.
Accolades
Accolades
Experience This Wine
The wine has a light crimson colour and a bouquet of violets and roses with a spicy tobacco and tar foundation. It is elegant in the mouth with red berry flavours and supportive tannins giving way to great length.
Juicy slow cooked wild rabbit stew with roasted winter vegetables and green beans, or a simple cheese platter with creamy taleggio, truffle
The Yarra Valley with its hot but short summer and cool nights throughout could be the ideal location for Nebbiolo. After some research, we planted numerous clones on a north-west slope to give the fruit every opportunity to ripen slowly in the golden autumn sun.
We gently picked the fruit and fermented the juice in tank. After fermentation, we left the wine on skins for 120-days to soften the tannins. We then aged the wine in seasoned puncheons (500L barrels) for 24 months.
The wine has a light crimson colour and a bouquet of violets and roses with a spicy tobacco and tar foundation. It is elegant in the mouth with red berry flavours and supportive tannins giving way to great length.
Juicy slow cooked wild rabbit stew with roasted winter vegetables and green beans, or a simple cheese platter with creamy taleggio, truffle
The Yarra Valley with its hot but short summer and cool nights throughout could be the ideal location for Nebbiolo. After some research, we planted numerous clones on a north-west slope to give the fruit every opportunity to ripen slowly in the golden autumn sun.
We gently picked the fruit and fermented the juice in tank. After fermentation, we left the wine on skins for 120-days to soften the tannins. We then aged the wine in seasoned puncheons (500L barrels) for 24 months.
