Hewitson Strawberry Hill Shiraz 2021
- 97
- $150
- Drink by: 2023-2037
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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.
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.
