Hewitson Mother Vine Monopole Shiraz 2019

From a single vineyard cloned from one lone ‘mother’ vine found in the Old Garden vineyard planted in 1853, the Hewiston Monopole Shiraz is a delicious drop; smooth and supple, with an intensity of bright fruit resulting from partial whole bunch; blackberries, black cherries and blueberries, complete with notes of herbal leaf, oolong tea and vanilla. The palate is smooth – a feature of all of Dean’s wines – but with a slightly saline edge, savoury intensity midway, and structural acidity. The wine is long, with a decidedly grippy finish, and whilst drinking beautifully now will repay time in the cellar. Score – 98. (Melissa Moore, winepilot.com, undated)