Description
Hewitson is the culmination of a love of the Barossa and Southern France, and some of the world’s oldest vines. Established in 1997 by Dean and Lou Hewitson, following the lease of an 1853-planted block of mourvèdre vines, recognised as the world’s oldest, and an old (but comparatively young) dairy factory, Hewitson has since come to be recognised as one of the Barossa’s most respected and singular producers.
Dean started his winemaking career at Petaluma in the late 80s and early 90s. Under the influential eye of Brian Croser, he was encouraged to spend as much time making wine abroad as possible, and subsequent vintages in Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Champagne, and Oregon were swiftly added to his CV. To counterbalance his practical experience, Dean also completed his Masters of (O)Enology at U.C Davis. In the early years of raising their family (sons Ned and Henry, and daughter Harriet), the Hewitsons lived in Provence, where Dean furthered his obsession for the region’s native varieties and the savoury, refreshing wine styles of Southern France.
Shifting their HQ to Seppeltsfield, Barossa in 2007, Dean and Lou restored a 160-year-old homestead which now houses the Hewitson tasting room and a handful of boutique guest suites. Aside from making wine, Dean has made it part of his life’s work to establish the legacy of the old vines with which he works, grafting cuttings onto decades-old rootstock.
About this wine from the winemaker: “Planted in 1853 Old Garden Vineyard is renowned as the oldest Mourvèdre vines on Earth. These original vines, ungrafted and pre-Phylloxera, have been handtended and dry-farmed by Friedrich Koch and his direct descendants across three centuries. Just eight rows of this rare and unique planting remain to this day. Soils are two metres of sand over limestone that combine to provide both the drainage at the surface and the moisture deep within the fissured bedrock, enabling these vines to remain healthy, strong and viable. There are no re-plantings at all in the treasured vineyard of just over one Hectare in size.” Dean Hewitson
100% dry-grown mourvèdre from the world’s oldest mourvèdre vines, planted by Friedrich Koch in 1853. Just eight rows of vines in Rowland Flat, in sand over limestone. 85% whole bunches, fermentation in vats over 30 days. Maturation in new Remond French oak barriques. Lifted aromas of forest berries, black cherries and orange peel. These are repeated on the palate with the addition of subtle chocolate and coffee grounds, with spice and seamlessly integrated tannins.
98 Points, Nick Ryan, The Australian “The fat and fur, salt and smoke from a poacher’s fire. A dark earthy seam. Sinewy flesh melts across the mid-palate and a fine grained grit pulls the wine through a sustained finish suggesting cellaring will be rewarded. One of the most significant mourvèdre wines on the planet.”
97 points, David Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion “Dean Hewitson is the custodian of the oldest mourvèdre vineyard in the world, planted 1853. That’s bonkers, right?! The aromatic profile is compelling, magnetic. There is the impression that there’s something special going on here. Gentle red and dark berry fruits flow from the glass along with a cornucopia of spice, dried herbs, charcuterie, clove, rhubarb, pressed flowers, leather, cedar, pepper and earth. Travels like silk, like the smoothest bearings you can imagine. Seamless. Long, woodsy, meaty and without peer when it comes to mourvèdre in this country. Superb.”
97 points, Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot “...The wine maintains its intensity for the full journey and what length it really does offer. A cracking wine which will surely present well for at least fifteen to twenty years.”
RRP $95 Our Price $78.99
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