Hewitson Strawberry Hill Shiraz 2021

The name comes from the old strawberry patch which is nearby the vineyard (I guess that the marketing team can be thankful that the vineyard was not near the local rubbish dump). The wine undergoes an extended three week fermentation, followed by maturation in a mix of French oak, including one and two-year-old barrels, for fifteen months, oak for the barrels sourced from a range of different forests. A vibrant dark purple colour. The wine already exhibits real concentration, but also a wonderful plushness and richness. Even at this early stage, and coming from a cracking vintage, it is obvious that this sits above the vast majority of its peers. Chocolate, mocha, coffee beans and root vegetables. The texture is supple with a fine line of vibrant acidity running the length, which is very long. A wine which will give pleasure for at least the next ten to fifteen years and there is no reason to rush it. Brilliant stuff.