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. Deep inky red. Rich black fruits with floral notes. Intense mulberry and raspberry, chocolate and seamlessly integrated tannins. 14% alc.
96 points, Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot “The team located a single Shiraz vine from 1853 in the middle of their Old Garden Vineyard. Over many years, this was used to establish the Monopole Vineyard. 2022 was an excellent vintage, although a low yielding one. The team used 50% whole bunches in the fermentation and maturation was in a mix of new and older French oak barriques for a year and a half. Bottled under cork. Inky black maroon in colour, there is toasty oak still evident, with hints of vanilla, all still in the process of integration. The nose reveals an appealingly ripe style with notes of chocolate, mocha, coffee beans and blackberries. Big, bold, ripe and gorgeous, the wine is seductively textured with excellent balance and a fine line of acidity through to the silky, almost ethereal tannins. Enjoy this over the next twelve to fifteen years. Wow!”
95 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion “A ‘sélection clonale’ from one shiraz vine planted in 1853, 50% whole bunch. Deep crimson with fruit tones of dark plum, blackberry and boysenberry fruits. Hints of wood spice, black pepper, mocha, blackforest cake, dried tobacco, a suggestion of leather and cassis. The fruit swells and presents a lovely textural ride on the palate with abundant spice and dark chocolatey tones, fine, powdery tannins and a surprising freshness to its travel. Depth with a decent serve of elegance here.”
RRP $158 Our Special Price $79.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.
