Hewitson Monopole Mother Vine Shiraz 2022
- 96
- $90
- Drink by: 2026-2041
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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!
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
