Crest Cabernet Shiraz Merlot
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed within 1 to 4 years of vintage release while the fruit profile is fresh and vibrant.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled lamb chops, classic beef burgers, or rich pasta bolognese.
✨ Technical Specifications
The Hardys Crest Cabernet Shiraz Merlot is a classic expression of the historic Australian art of multi-regional blending. Bearing the iconic crest of the Hardy family, this wine pays homage to Thomas Hardy's original vision of crafting consistent, high-quality wines by sourcing fruit from diverse vineyards across South Eastern Australia. This blend brings together the structural backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon, the rich, spicy plum notes of Shiraz, and the fleshy, softening influence of Merlot. Fermented in stainless steel and aged with a touch of oak, it is crafted to be an approachable, fruit-forward red that captures the sunny, generous climate of Australia's premier growing regions.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1853 by Devon immigrant Thomas Hardy—widely venerated as the father of the South Australian wine industry—Hardys stands as one of the quintessential pillars of Australian viticultural history. Operating from its spiritual home at the historic Tintara cellars in McLaren Vale since the 1870s, the house leverages both estate vineyards and cross-regional grower partnerships spanning South Eastern Australia. The estate’s terroirs in McLaren Vale benefit from a Mediterranean climate moderated by cooling gulf breezes and an intricate tapestry of ancient soils ranging from terra rossa and red clay to weathered sandstone. Hardys has long championed a winemaking ethos predicated on master blending, structural power, and fruit purity. While celebrated for approachable commercial staples like the Stamp and Crest collections, the pinnacle of the house is reflected in its cellar-worthy icons: the Thomas Hardy Cabernet Sauvignon and the Eileen Hardy Shiraz and Chardonnay, which benchmark the ageability and depth of South Australian fruit.
🍇 Grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot
🍷 ABV
13.5% - 14%