2023 Ned & Henry's Shiraz

$35.00

"A very good friend of mine challenged me to produce a traditional, full-bodied Barossa Valley wine with the only criteria that it could be drunk young at lunch or dinner and did not stray from my fundamental wine making philosophies. French oak, fine grained tannins, balance, clear fruit expression! Those who know me well know that I just love a good challenge!” - Dean Hewitson.

TASTING NOTE

"A very good friend of mine challenged me to produce a traditional, full-bodied Barossa Valley wine with the only criteria that it could be drunk young at lunch or dinner and did not stray from my fundamental wine making philosophies. French oak, fine grained tannins, balance, clear fruit expression! Those who know me well know that I just love a good challenge!” - Dean Hewitson.

TASTING NOTE

 

Reviews

“This has always been a crowd pleaser. Hewitson’s goal from the start was to make an immediately approachable Barossa shiraz that could also handle cellaring for up to 10 years. Well, it has certainly met the first part of that, and I have no doubt it will comfortably meet the second. Plush and generously appointed shiraz with lashings of chocolaty dark plummy flavours. The tannins are well managed to support the palate while the oak completes the final piece of a very good wine. Love it. 94 Points" - Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot

“The aim here is to produce a full-flavoured Barossa Shiraz, which is a joy to drink when approached young but which could also age for a decade at least. Maturation was in French oak. Named after Dean’s sons. A dark maroon colour, the plushness is present from the first moment. There are notes of chocolate and mocha, coffee beans, herbs, blackberries, cocoa powder and a hint of blueberries. This is ripe, dense but ever-so-well balanced. There is impressive length here, finishing with very fine-grained tannins. Delicious now and it should continue to be so for the next decade. Like this a lot. 93 Points" - Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot

“Sweetly fruited and instantly appealing, the wine shows dark plum, blueberry, rich floral, warm spice, and hazelnut aromas on the nose. The palate is equally appealing with excellent weight and plump mouthfeel, finishing silky and persistent. At its best: now to 2035. 93 Points" - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

”Medium deep crimson. Attractive blackberry roasted walnut aromas with some peppery notes. Supple and velvety textured with ample blackberry, roasted walnut, touch ginger peppery flavours and fine slinky tannins. Finishes chocolaty and long with juicy dark berry fruits and hint leafy notes. A versatile and classic Barossa style for early or medium term drinking. 93 Points” - Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal

“A deep, inky ruby in the glass with lifted aromas of black cherry, blackberry and bramble alongside vanilla and light cedar oak notes and a touch of soy sauce savouriness. The palate is full-bodied but finely balanced, with well-integrated dusty tannins and a smooth finish. Easy to enjoy, the Ned & Henry’s makes for great mid-week drinking. 93 Points” - Melissa Moore, Wine Pilot

“Dean Hewitson was challenged to make a traditional, full-bodied Barossa red that could be enjoyed early. He created a wine that fits the bill well. The ’23, from a cool, wet year weighs in at 14% abv. and brings to the glass a real brightness of fruit, fresh, clean. And while Ned & Henry’s is generous with a rich middle palate, the role of sandpaper fine tannins and the overall balanced structure make it ideal for earlier drinking, should that be your choice. Blackberry, anise, chocolate, earth and spice light up the scent – archetypal Barossa shiraz. It’s a welcoming wine, friendly and persuasive. A second glass is hard to say no to, what with its approachability and warmth wrapped in black fruits, bramble, earth, cocoa, vanilla pod with a light dusting of spice. 92 Points” - Jeni Port, Wine Pilot

“From the Steingarten Road Vineyard with an average age of 30 years. Winemaking sees 16 months maturation in seasoned French oak barriques. Spiced and bright. Potpourri, ‘taco seasoning’ and woody anise and clove spices. Blood plums and purple berries off-set with olive tapenade, soft charry meats, rock salt, green peppercorn and a sheen of oak. Fleshy and silky, a bit more heft than the 2022, yet still steps mid-weight. Tannins stay powdery and nebulous, underscoring tasty purple fruit, peppery spice and vanilla tinged oak. Savoury herbal edges keep intrigue above a run of the mill Shiraz. 92 Points” - Regan Drew, Wine Pilot

“Very deep, brooding red-purple colour; intense but brooding aroma of black fruits, milled black pepper, tar and bitumen, laced with crushed seashell notes. Super-ripe and almost goes too far, but retains some freshness. Full-bodied and round in shape, smooth supple tannins in appealing balance and very good drinkability as well as some ageing potential. 91 Points” - Huon Hooke, The Real Review

“Easy going, very drinkable, mid-weight with all the familiar touchpoints of Barossa Shiraz: dark fruits, some spice – a little on the peppery side – generously flavoured with a little gastronomic bitters in the palate. Everything works together to deliver a no-nonsense, everyday style. 91 Points” - Tony Love, Wine Pilot