Wild Duck Creek Yellow Hammer Hill SMC 2023 is a generous Heathcote blend of Shiraz, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, combining rich fruit, warmth and spice with a soft, rounded texture. Made as an approachable expression of the Wild Duck Creek style, it delivers plenty of depth and weight while remaining balanced and immediately inviting.
Tasting Notes
Blueberry, mulberry and raspberry fruit lead the way, with a compote-like richness complemented by warmth and spice. The palate is generous and rounded, with substantial fruit weight, soft structure and excellent balance. Despite its richness, everything remains neatly integrated through a pleasing, persistent finish.
Winemaking
Yellow Hammer Hill brings together Shiraz, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the same vineyards each year. The fruit is gently destemmed before fermentation, with hand plunging followed by basket pressing. The wine matures for up to 23 months using a combination of older French and American oak barriques and hogsheads, large-format vats and some concrete vats.
Heathcote
Yellow Hammer Hill offers an accessible introduction to Wild Duck Creek Estate and the generous character of Heathcote red wine. The combination of Shiraz, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine depth and richness while retaining the balance and drinkability that define the blend.
Reviews
"This has slip and slide, depth and richness, a warmth and spice in blueberry, mulberry, raspberry fruit characters. A compote, perhaps. It's soft and cuddly, warming and round. Very well balanced and come hither in its nature. While being relatively chunky, all of it is tucked in nicely and the length is pleasing. Done well, here. And value for the bucks for those seeking wines of heft, from boutique producers, at a nice price."
93 Points - Mike Bennie, The Wine Front, July 2025
Cellaring & Serving
Already approachable for its generous fruit and soft texture, with the structure to develop further in bottle. Drink from 2025 to 2031. Serve at around 16–18°C.
