Hewitson’s Estate lies along the banks of the Para River, in the heart of the Barossa Valley on the historic Seppeltsfield Road. Historically, this strip has produced some of Barossa’s — and Australia’s — finest red wines. The Ned & Henry’s range is named for the winemaker’s sons and is designed to deliver traditional Barossa Shiraz character with both early appeal and aging capacity.
Spring and early summer were cooler than average during 2022 in the Barossa Valley, with budburst and flowering delayed across many sites. Hail and frost events led to damage and poor fruit set, resulting in lower yields and a longer than average harvest. But not all was lost. Because of the cool-leaning growing season, extended ripening allowed the grapes to achieve intensity and depth while retaining fresh acidity and structure.
The Hewitson winery brings together state of the art with traditional winemaking practices and a soft footprint on the land. Demanding attention is given in the vineyard to drainage, soil health and biodiversity. Ned & Henry's Shiraz comes from the Steingarten Road Vineyard, where rye grass grows between rows. The vines are 30 years old and are planted on ancient oxidised ferrous (terra rossa) over limestone. Vinification involved a cold soak with a combination of whole berry and crushed fruit. The ferments were left on skins for approximately three weeks with daily pumpovers. The 2022 Hewitson Ned & Henry's Shiraz was aged 16 months in mid-seasoned French oak barriques. As this 2022 wine shows, Dean excels at challenges.
I was introduced to this wine by Jamie Goode. He had leftovers from a seminar on Australian Shiraz, and this was one of the highlights. It's hard to believe the price – or how much Australian Shiraz has evolved over the last decade.
Tasting Note
A generous nose of juicy red and black forest berries, licorice, and black cherry jam. On the palate, explosive red berries drop into velvety soft tannins. With fresh acidity on the finish, this is a rich and complex Shiraz.
Food Pairing
Butter-basted steak, slow-simmered stew, or hard strong cheeses will effortlessly pair with this decadent and complex Shiraz. ‘Tis the season for indulgence.