Hewitson Wines

James Halliday, Wine Compendium/ Australian Wine Companion

Private Cellar 2009

"...the intensity and length are prodigious..."

Rating: 97 points

Light, clear crimson; given the medium-bodied weight of the wine, the intensity and length are prodigious; red fruits are the main theme on the aromatic bouquet and throught the palate. Made from very old vines, and comes witha 20-year cellaring guarantee; French oak and fine tannins complete the story. Drink to 2034 with prime eye fillet.

The Mad Hatter Shiraz 2009

"...soars on the back-palate..."

Rating: 96 points

From a single vineyard in the cool Blewitt Springs (unofficial) subregion of McLaren Vale that spent 22 months in new French oak. Its bright crimson colour heralds an elegant medium-bodied wine that has an attractively fragrant bouquet, but soars on the back-palate and finish with its waves of sweet red cherry fruit and gossamer-fine tannins. Screwcap. Drink till 2030.

Old Garden Mourvèdre 2009

2009 Hewitson Old Garden Mourvèdre

Light, clear, but bright red; the mother/daughter relationship with '10 Baby Bush Mourvedre is immediately obvious; the wine has greater intensity to its red fruits, but the same lithe grace and the remarkably fine, almost silky, tannins. Will live for a long, long time. Screwcap. Drink by: 2029

Old Garden Mourvèdre 2009

"the mother/daughter relationship with '10 Baby Bush Mourvèdre is immediately obvious"

Rating: 96 pts

Light, clear, but bright red; the mother/daughter relationship with '10 Baby Bush Mourvèdre is immediately obvious; the wine has greater intensity to its red fruits, but the same lithe grace and the remarkably fine, almost silky, tannins. Will live for a long, long time. Screwcap. Drink by: 2029

Old Garden Mourvèdre 2008

James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion 2012 Edition

Rating: 96
Clear colour; remarkable for the core of red fruit flavours inside the wrapping of fine, savour tannins; together these (and 18 months in French oak) sustain the wonderful length and elegance of the wine.

Old Garden Mourvèdre 2007

07 Old Garden - 96 points “Equal top Australian wine of it’s class”

96 points

Bright and clear colour and hue; a fragrant bouquet leads into an extremely finely boned and structured palate, a quiet statement of superiority from 150-year-old vines.

Download the 'Shiraz and Family" list (JPG: 244 kB)

The Mad Hatter Shiraz 2006

06 The Mad Hatter Shiraz – “94 points”

94 points

A single-vineyard wine with 20 months in French oak, which is counter-cultural in its elegant, medium-bodied profile and moderate alcohol; red fruits and touches of mocha and chocolate predominate.

Private Cellar 2006

06 Private Cellar – 94 points “Powerful, yet very well balanced”

94 points

Powerful, yet very well balanced, the two varieties reacting synergistically; a mix of plum, black cherry and blackberry, with fine but persistent tannins; has swallowed 20 months in French oak; 20-year cellaring ex the label is conservative.

Miss Harry 2007

07 Miss Harry – 94 points “Elegant wine that is all about the textures”

94 points

Elegant wine that is all about the textures - silk, satin and a hint of velvet - to its supple, medium-bodied palate; the flavours are of cherry and plum, the oak subtle.

Ned & Henry's 2007

07 Ned & Henry's Shiraz – 93 points “four & half stars”

93 points

Full-blooded wine with blackberry, leather and licorice aromas and flavour, along with a touch of mocha oak; good balance and structure.

Baby Bush Mourvèdre 2007

07 Baby Bush Mourvedre – 92 points “four & half stars”

92 points

Similar colour and flavour to Old Garden; this wine has bright fruits and savoury spices, but without the authority of its parent, Old Garden.

LuLu Sauvignon Blanc 2008

"...a mix of passionfruit, gooseberry and apple on the palate."

91 points

Pleasant wine; throws off a slightly closed bouquet with a mix of passionfruit, gooseberry and apple on the palate.

Gun Metal Riesling 2008

08 Gun Metal Riesling – 89 points “four stars”

89 points

A positive statement of region and variety, but doesn't sing on the finish and aftertaste.

The Mad Hatter Shiraz 2005

05 The Mad Hatter in James Halliday's 2009 Edition

95 points

"McLaren Vale at its best; masses of blackberry, spice and dark chocolate in a cocoon of fine but persistent tannins and quality French oak; excellent length. Opulent but not corpulent. Screwcap. 14.5º alc. Rating 95 To 2025 $50.00"

Ned & Henry's 2006

06 Ned & Henry's in James Halliday's 2009 Edition

95 points

"A stylish, medium-bodied wine with excellent length and balance; fresh plums, black cherry and blackberry fruit flavours; fine tannins, subtle oak. Screwcap. 14.5º alc. Rating 95 To 2020 $25.00"

Miss Harry 2006

06 Miss Harry in James Halliday's 2009 Edition

94 points

A prime example of the blend (Grenache/Shiraz/ Mourvedre) and the region (McLaren Vale), with spicy, earthy nuances to a vibrant medium-bodied palate with exceptional length. Screwcap. 14.5º alc. Rating 94 To 2020 $23.00"

*Please note Hewitson Miss Harry is and has always been made from Barossa Valley fruit. James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion 2009 Edition has incorrectly published that 2006 Miss Harry is made from McLaren Vale fruit.

Old Garden Mourvèdre 2006

06 Old Garden in James Halliday's 2009 Edition

94 points

"A somewhat idiosyncratic wine that creeps up on you by progressively building flavour and structure through the length of palate with spicy and pleasingly sour (sour cherry perhaps) notes. Screwcap. 14.5º alc. Rating 94 To 2016 $50.00"

Gun Metal Riesling 2007

07 Gun Metal in James Halliday's 2009 Edition

93 points

"Spotlessly clean and well made; ripe lime juice bouquet and palate, with splashes of spice and mineral; good length. Screwcap. 12.5º alc. Rating 93 To 2015 $23.00"

LuLu Sauvignon Blanc 2007

07 LuLu in James Halliday's 2009 Edition

"A good wine in the context of the vintage; gentle apple and gooseberry fruit; crisp, dry finish. Screwcap. 12.5º alc. Rating 92 To 2009 $23.00"

Baby Bush Mourvèdre 2006

06 Baby Bush in James Halliday's 2009 Edition

90 points

"Slightly hazy colour; sprightly savoury/spicy notes to the dark fruits, with ripe but fine tannins providing good structure. Screwcap. 14.5º alc. Rating 90 To 2013 $29.00"

Private Cellar 2006

06 Private Cellar in James Halliday's 2009 Edition

89 points

"Pleasant light-bodied wine, with cedary oak and gentle spicy red fruits, but I'm not convinced about the 10 years cellaring claim on the label. Screwcap. 14.5º alc. Rating 89 To 2012 $69.00"

The Mad Hatter Shiraz 2002

02 The Mad Hatter in James Halliday's 2006 Edition

92 points

"Very regional; pervasive dark chocolate, blackberry, plum and alcohol; savoury tannins prolong the finish; 2 years in French oak."

The Mad Hatter Shiraz 2003

03 The Mad Hatter in James Hallidays 2007 Edition

95 points

"Spice, chocolate blackberry and mocha aromas and flavours; full tannins. Carries its alcohol with ridiculous ease. Screwcap. 15% alc."

The Mad Hatter Shiraz 2004

04 The Mad Hatter in James Halliday's 2008 Edition

96 points

"A classy wine, with great depth of fruit and bitter chocolate bolstered by 2 years in new French oak; great length and balance; lingering finish." Screwcap 14.5% alc Rating 96 To 2029 $50.00

Ned & Henry's 2005

05 Ned & Henry's in James Halliday's 2008 Edition

91 points

"Strong, slightly opaque colour; an array of black fruits, prunes and some chocolate; why so ripe?" Screwcap 15% alc Rating 91 To 2019 $26.00

94 points for 2001 L'Oizeau in James Halliday's 2004 Edition

94 points

"Hewitson 2001 L'Oizeau Complex, spicy blackberry fruit and oak aromas; a super-elegant, graceful palate of black fruits, dark chocolate and fine tannins. Drink 2016."

Miss Harry 2005

05 Miss Harry in James Halliday's 2008 Edition

91 points

"Light but bright red; vibrantly fresh brasserie style (especially Italian) not forced into something bigger and larger." Screwcap 15% alc Rating 90 To 2010 $23.00

Ned & Henry's 2004

04 Ned & Henry's in James Halliday's 2007 Edition

95 points

"Potent black fruits, herbs and spices all intermingled on the bouquet, following through on the medium- to full-bodied, tightly focused palate. Screwcap."

Private Cellar 2005

05 Private Cellar in James Halliday's 2008 Edition

97 points

"Deep colour; super intense black fruits and dark chocolate, the mourvedre contributing to the texture as it should; an exciting wine with a great future." Screwcap 14.5% alc Rating 97 To 2030 $69.00

Eden Valley Riesling 2006

2006 Eden Valley Riesling in James Halliday's 2008 Edition

93 points

"Clean, fresh and crisp, with a classic twist of lime on a minerally base; long dry finish." Screwcap 12.5% Rating 93 To 2015 $23.00

Old Garden Mourvèdre 2005

05 Old Garden in James Halliday's 2008 Edition

95 points

"Medium-bodied, yet endlessly complex; has the dark fruits and the fine, savoury tannins which the variety is supposed to have, but which in Australia often seems to lack. The plantings are believed to be the oldest in the world. Even in the 1880s the vineyard was called 'The Old Garden' (Garden being the then name of the vineyard)." Screwcap 14.5% alc Rating 95 To 2020 $59.00

LuLu Sauvignon Blanc 2006

06 LuLu in James Halliday's 2008 Edition

92 points

"Spotlessly clean; nicely balanced, weighted and constructed; positive varietal character at the tropical end of the spectrum, but neither sweet nor phenolic." Screwcap 12.5% alc Rating 92 To 2008 $23.00

LuLu-V Viognier 2006

06 LuLu-V in James Halliday's 2008 Edition

90 points

"Has positive apricot and musk flavours without becoming ponderous; good length and balance." Screwcap 13.5% alc Rating 90 To 2008 $23.00

L'Oizeau McLaren Vale Shiraz 1997

Very concentrated yet elegant

95 points

"Bright and dark red-purple. Sensational fruit aroma. Very concentrated yet elegant- infact most elegant of four wines tasted. I am intrigued by the very fine tannins. The impression of oak is very subtle with refreshing cherry flavour."

Eden Valley Riesling 2005

2005 Riesling in James Halliday's 2007 Edition

93 points

"Floral lime blossom aromas; lime juice fruit built around a core of minerally acidity; very pure." Screwcap. 12% alc.

Old Garden Mourvèdre 2004

04 Old Garden in James Halliday's 2007 Edition

94 points

"Medium red-purple; sweet red and black fruits akin to Grenache, the structure quite different; in fact, the tannins are very well handled and refined, running through a long finish. Fault-free. Precious wine inheritance from vines planted in 1854. Screwcap. 14.5% alc."

LuLu Sauvignon Blanc 2005

05 LuLu in James Halliday's 2007 Edition

90 points

"Light straw-green; spotlessly clean and correct; whispers of gooseberry/ tropical fruit, then a crisp, dry finish." Screwcap. 12.5% alc.

Miss Harry 2004

04 Miss Harry in James Halliday's 2007 Edition

90 points

"Fresh, clean, vibrant; light-to medium-bodied red and black fruits with splashes of spice; oak and tannins irrelevant. Screwcap."

Miss Harry 2003

03 Miss Harry in James Halliday's 2006 Edition

93 points

"A supple, fleshy array of red fruit flavours; soft, ripe, gentle tannins; overall attractive sweetness. Rating: 93 Drink: 2008 $22 "

Old Garden Mourvèdre 2003

03 Old Garden in James Halliday's 2006 Edition

94 points

"Old Garden Mourvedre 2003 Scented, highly fruity varietal aromas and flavours; relies more on elegance than power or extract; delicious now. From 1853 vineyard plantings. Rating: 94 Drink: 2010 $51."

Old Garden Mourvèdre 2002

02 Old Garden in James Halliday's 2004 Edition

92 points

"Hewitson 2002 Old Garden Mourvedre Intense earthy/bitter chocolate savoury varietal aromas and flavours; long palate, ripe tannins; carries its 15.5% degrees alcohol well. Drink 2017."

Eden Valley Riesling 2003

2003 Eden Valley Riesling in James Halliday's 2004 Edition

89 points

"Hewitson 2003 Eden Valley Riesling Mineral slate and talc aromas; tight, lime-accented mid-palate, slatey finish. Drink 2009."

Miss Harry 2002

02 Miss Harry in James Halliday's 2004 Edition

87 points

"Hewitson 2002 Miss Harry A bright and lively cascade of red fruit flavours. Screwcap to keep it fresh. Drink: Now."

 Back