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: “Exclusive to Hewitson and estate grown, this single vineyard is a ‘Sélection Clonale’ from one 1853 Shiraz vine found in the middle of The Old Garden Vineyard. Over many years we harvested the buds from this one Shiraz vine and grafted them onto roots growing at the winery. Through this grafting process we have resurrected an ancient pre-Phylloxera clone of Shiraz, providing typically smaller bunches and berries with their own unique flavour and tannin profile. Monopole Vineyard is rooted in the classic and favoured soils, that are iron-rich terra rossa over clay over limestone, surrounding the winery at Dorrien.” Dean Hewitson
45% whole bunches, 55% crushed and desteemed, three weeks on skins with pump overs. 18 months’ maturation in new and old French oak prior to bottling. Deeply rich and aromatic with floral notes and black fruits. The palate exhibits intense mulberry and raspberry, with dark chocolate and beautifully integrated tannins. 14% alc.
97 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion “Purple-splashed garnet in the glass with pristine fruit aromas of plum, blueberry and black cherry fruits, detailed and perfectly poised. Hints of baking spices, sage, bay leaf, olive tapenade, roasting venison, purple floral tones, mocha and earth. There’s a chimera of wintergreen way back in the aroma scape. Graceful, comfortingly oaked with excellent concentration and red-fruited intensity. Savoury and so elegant in its travel, tannins powdery and sedimentary, sour cherry acidity and a finish that sails on. Beautiful.”
96 points, Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot “A single vine from that planting was nurtured over many years of harvesting buds and grafting to rootstock to create this wonderful single site. Has intensity but it sits more in the medium bodied zone. Alluring aromas of red currant and light plum with a little vanilla essence. The wine gently caresses the palate as it floats effortlessly to a sustained finish. Smooth integration of tannin with new and seasoned oak complemented by intriguing brick dust and chalk characters on the palate. Just beautiful.”
RRP $95 Our Special Price $75.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.
