Description
Dean Hewitson is driven by passion. His creation of individual, exquisite wines from the ancient vineyards of South Australia is for your indulgence. Dean Hewitson has been indeed very fortunate to be tutored by some of the best wine makers and wine scientists in the world. Having completed his degree at Roseworthy, he worked at one of Australia’s best wineries, visited some of the world’s best wineries experiencing fifteen vintages worldwide, and spent two years at UC Davis, California, where he completed his Masters. Through all of this, to be guided through wine evaluations and wine making techniques of the great wines by the masters themselves has certainly been a privilege and a wonderful opportunity for him. He therefore is able to draw on a very wide spectrum of ideas, practices, philosophies and experiments. These are encapsulated in his wines. Hunting down the right varieties in the right vineyard in the right region was the next step. Each variety has been selected on the basis of being able to produce a wine of world class that, in particular, the old vineyards of South Australia are able to produce. Geographical isolation and in part a fluke of human non-intervention have preserved pre-phylloxera vineyards that are more closely linked to the original clones from Europe than anywhere on earth.
Hewitson Miss Harry 2012
Hewitson Tasting Note
The 2012 Hewistson Miss Harry is a blend sourced from Barossa Valley fruit. Comprised of Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvedre, Carignan and Cinsault, respectively, there have been references to this being a mini-version of a Chateauneuf du Pape red, but we look at it as a more souped up Cote du Rhone red. Named after the nickname given to Dean’s daughter, Harriet, some of the grapes that go into the blend are from vineyards planted in the late 1800’s. The 2012 was a stellar vintage for the Barossa and the Miss Harry is a great example of what the Barossa does best. Perfumed, with pepper, spice and wild herbs and showcasing a combo of red and black fruits, this has a wonderful fruit concentration, with vibrant fruit flavors that are given structure by perfectly integrated wood tannins creating a wine that is complex and perfectly balanced. Very approachable at its early age this should drink beautifully over the next 3-4 years.
Dan Murphys Tasting Note
Hewitson Miss Harry is a blend of old-vine Grenache Shiraz and Mourvedre. It’s rich fruit driven style captures the essence of the Barossa. Ripe and spicy with a touch of earthiness it is great drinking now. 94 Points
Decanter Tasting Note
A five-way blend of grenache, shiraz, mourvèdre, carignan and cinsault, the 2012 Miss Harry is packed with bright, expressive red- and dark-berry fruits. This really relies on fruit alone. It’s an easy-going wine on the palate. Supple tannins deliver an attractive, fleshy texture. Soft, approachable and bursting with flavor. Drink now. (Suckling)
94 points James Halliday
Complex without being try-hard about it. Gorgeous mix of various berried fruits, licorice, grainy tannin, savoury-smoky notes and clovey oak. It’s at the upper end of mid-weight but it’s mouthfilling. High quality tannin and length. Warm finish but impressive all round. (7/2014)
93 points James Suckling
Lots of peppery fruit with plum, dried strawberry and spice. Full to medium body, integrated tannins and a beautiful, balanced finish. Hard to find something like this even in Châteauneauf. Wonderful value. Drink now. (1/2015)
91 points Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
Opaque ruby. Highly perfumed aromas of blackberry, floral oils, woodsmoke and mocha, with a peppery nuance adding lift. Sappy and seamless on the palate, offering juicy red and dark berry flavors that pick up energy with aeration. Closes broad, spicy and very long, with lingering smokiness and velvety, late-arriving tannins. (7/2014)
91 points Wine Spectator
Lithe and appealing, with tea leaf and orange peel accents around a sleek core of red berry flavors. The finish lingers effortlessly against refined tannins. Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvèdre, Carignane and Cinsault. Best from 2015 through 2020. (8/2014)
