The Barossa Valley is home to some of the world’s oldest Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre vines. Few can be much older and gnarly than the vines that are the source of Dean Hewitson’s Old Garden Mourvèdre. Planted almost 160 years ago in 1853, these vines must be among the oldest vines on the planet to have been in continuous production. Consider the events that have passed since these vines took root on the Barossa Valley floor.
To anyone acquainted with the wines of Bandol, and some of the Mourvèdre-heavy blends of the southern Rhone, this wine is unmistakeably Mourvèdre. In its youth, it is a tautly structured wine, defined by powdery tannin, blackberry/blueberry fruit and dusty Mediterranean herbs. Over a decade in bottle has seen the tannins and primary fruit fade, revealing a complex and slightly earthbound wine that is savoury and gamey.
Although the Hewitson Old Garden Mourvèdre mightn’t ring everybody’s bell, it is a wine that lovers of wine, more particularly, lovers of authentic Australian wine, should try a mature example of at least once in their life.
2001 OLD GARDEN MOURVÈDRE
Producer: Hewitson Wines
Variety: Mourvèdre
Vintage: 2001
Region: Barossa Valley, South Australia
ABV: 14.5%
Closure: Natural Cork
Format: 750ml
Retail price: N/a
Date tasted: 16 June 2012
Tasting Note:
Bright ruby, fading to garnet. Alluring nose of lavender, cocoa, tilled earth, blackberry, dusty herbs, hung game. Dry and savoury, at the medium end of full bodied, tannins have resolved to the point of being imperceptible, quite earthbound, cocoa, rosemary. Good length.
Score: 17/20
To anyone acquainted with the wines of Bandol, and some of the Mourvèdre-heavy blends of the southern Rhone, this wine is unmistakeably Mourvèdre. In its youth, it is a tautly structured wine, defined by powdery tannin, blackberry/blueberry fruit and dusty Mediterranean herbs. Over a decade in bottle has seen the tannins and primary fruit fade, revealing a complex and slightly earthbound wine that is savoury and gamey.
Although the Hewitson Old Garden Mourvèdre mightn’t ring everybody’s bell, it is a wine that lovers of wine, more particularly, lovers of authentic Australian wine, should try a mature example of at least once in their life.
Producer: Hewitson Wines
Variety: Mourvèdre
Vintage: 2001
Region: Barossa Valley, South Australia
ABV: 14.5%
Closure: Natural Cork
Format: 750ml
Retail price: N/a
Date tasted: 16 June 2012
Tasting Note:
Bright ruby, fading to garnet. Alluring nose of lavender, cocoa, tilled earth, blackberry, dusty herbs, hung game. Dry and savoury, at the medium end of full bodied, tannins have resolved to the point of being imperceptible, quite earthbound, cocoa, rosemary. Good length.
Score: 17/20
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