Hewitson The Mad Hatter Shiraz 2023
- 94
- $50
- Drink by: 2025-2040
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Forget visions of Alice disappearing down rabbit holes, this is labelled after Dean’s nickname. A blend of the best of what the Barossa has to offer. A superb Barossa Shiraz from an exciting vintage. The wine has a dark maroon hue. There is good concentration from start to finish with notes of blackberries, aniseed, mulberries, smoked meats, soy, beef stock, dark berries, coffee grinds and dried herbs. There is serious length here, through to fine rather sleek tannins, and a line of juicy acidity. This has ten to fifteen years ahead of it and will continue to improve over that time.
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.
