Hewitson Old Garden Mourvèdre 2019
- 97
- $88
- Drink by: 2022-2042
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A famous wine. The Old Garden Vineyard, which is unirrigated, in the Barossa is home to the oldest Mourvèdre vines on the planet, dating back to 1853. This wine usually sees around 50% whole bunches in the vat for a month, fermentation and then 18 months in new French oak barriques from a mix of forests. Deep, dark red, the nose moves through spices, warm earth, roast meats, bergamot, dark berries, chocolate, animal skins and a sweet core of black cherries. Seamless, the bright acidity carries the wine through to the very long finish with its silky tannins. There is a freshness here, great length and such focus and poise, even a hint of finesse. This has twenty years ahead of it. Is there a better varietal Mourvèdre on the planet?
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.
