In 1980, Geoff Hardy left the then family company, Thomas Hardy & Sons, to make his own way in the Australian wine world. The same year, he established Pertaringa and since then the Pertaringa vineyards in the foothills behind McLaren Vale have continued to produce some of the region's finest wines. The soils are enriched from the hills above and the cooler climate, further tempered by the sea breezes off St Vincent's Gulf, sets the scene for high quality wine grapes.

The Tipsy Hill Vineyard in Blewitt Springs is owned by Richard Dolan and Bec Hardy. It's a pocket-hankerchief size, east-facing, and was planted in '99. This first single vineyard release has superb colour, and the cool site has resulted in a terrific cabernet strongly reminiscent of young Bordeaux. It is a wine of great purity, savoury bay leaf/black olive notes partly hidden by blackcurrant fruit, fine but firm tannins the essential conclusion. Great wine. Drink to: 2047; Price: $295.00; Date Tasted: Jan 2019; Alcohol: 14.5%; Rating: 97 Points; James Halliday; Wine Companion

A profound offering; the gloriously seductive bouquet shows blackberry, creme de cassis, cocoa, cigar box and cedar characters, leading to a concentrated palate that is gracefully powerful and delectably satisfying. The wine is undeniably rich and opulent, while delivering varietal purity and refinement, wonderfully complemented by silky texture and seamlessly woven chalky tannins.  At its best: 2022 to 2036. Price: $295.00; Rating: 97 Points; Sam Kim; Wine Orbit

96 Points - Wine Showcase Magazine
Top 100 - Matthew Jukes

Deep, dense red/purple colour and a quite oaky, rather closed bouquet. It's concentrated all-round. Blackberries and oak and super-ripe black olive notes. The wine is full-bodied and intense, lively and with a slight astringent edge. Fresh, bold, big wine. Lots of alcohol warmth and richness. It opened up after extended airing, to offer deep-set black fruits, quite complex, and a rich fruit-sweet mid-palate. Cellar for best results. Drink to: 2020 to 2038; Rating: 95 Points; Huon Hooke