Hewitson The Dorrien Bank Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Deep, impenetrable purple hues. Hails from the Dorrien sub-region on the left bank of the Para River – hence, the name –  this 3ha vineyard produces stunning, elegant Cabernet. Striking from the first impression with its black fruited, well spiced aromas and tantalising hints of earthy savouriness. A lovely elegance ensues, smooth, textural but also bright in acidity, the perfect backdrop for a palate rich in dark berries, chocolate, woodsy spices and a decent sweep of toasted vanillin oak following 18 months maturation in a mix of new and seasoned Bordeaux oak barriques. Impressive length, flowing smooth and long and with style. There is no doubt that this is a fuller bodied Barossa style, but there is an undeniable elegance, too, with tannins anchored in deep and waiting to take this wine on its journey ahead. A brilliant wine.

Jeni Port

Wine critic at Winepilot

Jeni Port is one of Australia’s top wine communicators. Based in Melbourne, Jeni created the first wine column in the (then) Sun News-Pictorial before moving over to The Age and becoming that paper’s longest-serving wine writer. Over the years she has written for most Australian wine magazines and these days calls WinePilot home. She is also a Tasting Panel member on the Halliday Wine Companion. She was named Wine Communicator of the Year and Legend of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in 2014 and in 2018 Legend of the Vine. She is a founding board member of Australian Women In Wine and is the co-deputy chair of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards and China’s Wine List of the Year Awards.

Wine writer and critic