Hewitson The Mad Hatter Shiraz 2021
- 95
- $50
- Drink by: 2023-2043
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This is a selection from their very best Shiraz vineyards in the Barossa. Coming from such a top-notch vintage as 2021, much was expected. The wine delivers all one could wish for, and more. Maturation was in one and two-year-old French oak barriques for sixteen months. Opaque magenta in colour and a gorgeous nose here – cassis, mulberries, chocolate, coffee beans and mocha. A classic Barossa Shiraz with abundant tannins showing a silky/sandy mix and exceptional length plus flavours moving to soy and beefstock characters. This wine has 12 to 20 years ahead of it and there is every reason to believe that its score could rise further. The price may ensure it is not everyday drinking for most of us, but that does not mean it is not wonderful value.
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.
