Hewitson 'Cask 66' Shiraz 2023 ($450 @ Cellar Door!)

"Dean Hewitson was a winemaker at Petaluma for 10 years, during which time he managed to do vintages in France and one in Oregon, as well as undertaking his master's at the University of California, Davis. The wines are immaculately made from a technical viewpoint. Dean sources old-vine mourvèdre from Friedrich Koch's Old Garden vineyard, planted in 1853 at Rowland Flat, as well as shiraz and grenache from (up to) 110yo vines in Tanunda and riesling from 30+yo vines in the Eden Valley. Cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, mourvèdre and muscat blanc are estate grown." Halliday Wine Companion

Hewitson is a member of Sustainable Wine Growing Australia - a national program for producers, committed to making wine sustainably.

"Old dry-grown vines are rare in the world of wine and we are indeed fortunate that we can and do claim these as ungrafted. Growing in deep sandy soils, free of pests and diseases these old vines are strong, resilient and true to type. With red-ripe berries and golden-ripe stalks the grapes were picked at optimum ripeness, destemmed and gently crushed leaving some whole berries intact then fermented in open vats with heading down boards for three weeks, pressed then matured in old French barriques on lees for fifteen months. After this maturation period the wine was carefully racked and bottled as an exclusive cuvée." Dean Hewitson

“Immensely complex and perfumed, the bouquet presents black and blueberry, violet, tapenade, star anise, and stylish oak characters. The concentrated palate exhibits exceptional depth and weight, wonderfully framed by velvety texture and finely infused tannins. It is opulent and substantial, yet refined and harmonious, with a persistent and gratifying finish. Gorgeously proportioned and balanced, ensuring its gracious development. At its best: 2028 to 2043." 98pts | Sam Kim | Wine Orbit 

“The name comes from the address of the winery, 66 Seppeltsfield Road. Every year, the team will see a really exciting batch of Shiraz – it may be from estate vineyards or from a top grower – which demands attention. It will spend time maturing in French oak, before a final barrel selection. The final wine is always very special. Under cork. The colour is an opaque magenta. The lifted aromatics are a touch thrilling and there are notes of plums, spices, chocolate, tobacco leaves, aniseed, black fruits and coffee grinds. The oak integration has been deftly handled. This is a class effort. The palate sees the emergence of notes of soy, cloves and blackberries. There is fine balance, impressive length and the finest of tannins. Wonderful stuff, which will surely drink beautifully for the next ten to twenty years. Barossa at its best." 96pts | Ken Gargett | Wine Pilot 
 
“A special release from winemaker Dean Hewitson, the titled “66” referring to his winery address on the fabled Seppeltsfield Road, mid Valley floor, while the noted “Cask” is more aligned to his maturation program ad detailed barrel selection. This shapes the wine into best of the best territory, top grade Barossa Shiraz resting in French oak oak “casks” for 18 months, resulting in a supremely finessed, singular expression where the fruit and oak marriage is everything, just a glimpse of smoky bacon, just a faint whiff of eucalypt, all expertly woven and expressed with a contemporary vitality in the palate, seasoned generously with a black pepper spice character, concluding in an elite wrapping of gastronomic Amaro-like bitterness. A good airing or decanter is worth the effort for this to step further into the stratosphere." 96pts | Tony Love | Wine Pilot

“The Hewitson winery is at 66 Seppeltsfield Road, hence the 66 name. This wine is from a vintage that was the coolest (temperature-wise) of the past decade. It’s a velvety wine with clear complex inflections and more than enough fruit to satisfy, without being anywhere near overdone. Indeed the flavour profile here has more than a little intrigue to it. Dried herbs, soy, anise, sweet plums, iodine and smoked meat characters all contribute. The iodine notes are particularly apparent, in a positive sense. The tannin feels as though it’s going to play an assertive role but then sinks straight down into the belly of fruit; always a good sign. This wine is at one with itself. It’s complex, so be warned. But the quality here is excellent." 95pts | Campbell Mattinson