The best barrels, in the biggest bottle, with the heftiest pricetag. Oh yes, this Hewitson 1853 Barrel 2019 is the definition of a flagship red. But how does it taste?
TL;DR it’s gold medal stuff, although $450 is steep.
What’s interesting is how much of a step it is above the components. It’s an equal blend of the best barrel each of the Hewitson Old Garden Mourvedre 2019 & the Hewitson Monopole Shiraz 2019 picked after both had finished their 20 months in oak.
As you might have read last week, I struggled with the hype behind the Monopole, and the wine was solid but not $150 icon territory. The Old Garden, by comparison, was typically top shelf. And this red? It’s next level. A real, essence of the Barossa vibe. Plum jam, pan juices, something spicy and exotic at the edges, blackcurrant jelly, a whisper of spice and then it gets dark. So many shades to this. Black fruit, menthol, black olives, something dark and mysterious. Proper tannins to finish. A dark, complex and gruff but interesting Barossan red of real appeal. It’s not polished and oak rich and plush, but quite a mouthful of red.
Can I justify the price? No. Is it quality wine? Yes. Would I buy it? No. Will you buy it? Let me know in the comments below…
Best drinking: now or in two decades time. 18.7/20, 95/100. 14%, $450. Would I buy it? No, but I’ll drink some of your bottle.
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