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NOTES
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 i.e. French oak, fine-grained tannins, balance, clear fruit expression etc! Those who know me well know that I just love a good challenge! Thus Ned & Henry's Barossa Valley was born.
Superbly sited vineyards grown on red soil over limestone, the classic terra rossa, provide the fruit for Ned & Henry's. These vineyards are traditionally grown, low-cropped and produce the necessary flavours and tannins for our wine. After traditional fermentation the wine is pressed into quality French barriques, where the wine finishes fermentation and malo-lactic fermentation. The wine matures in these barrels for a total of about 15 months before racking. While the base wine has always been Shiraz, each year I have blended a small proportion of Mourvèdre with the Shiraz, which accentuates the fruit and delivers a greater complexity.
TASTING NOTES
The colour of 2006 Ned & Henry's is deep red with a purple hue. The aroma is distinctively Barossa Valley: black and red, ripe fruits with a solid, concentrated core. Matured in only French oak, the fruit is interwoven with pepper, nutmeg and clove. The seamless class of perfectly ripe fruit and French oak is a stand-out here. The palate structure of Ned & Henry's delivers in every aspect of the brief. The fruit flavours are full and concentrated yet soft and supple. The tannins are gentle yet persistent and completely mould into the wine. Ned & Henry's is most definitely full-bodied: chocolate, blackberry and dark-earth characters. Yet the wine has great balance and poise and carries that signature called 'drinkability'.
OTHER REVIEWS
"Dean Hewitson has made every post a winner since leaving Petaluma in 1996, ferreting out patched of old vines, then making the wines with flair. This entry- point, medium-bodied wine has fresh plum, black cherry and blackberry fruit flavours, polished tannins and subtle oak, impressive length and balance." 95 Points, James Halliday, The Weekend Australian TOP 100
"There's such a thing in wine as 'grapeyness', which might sound like a statement of the bleeding obvious but refers to the fact that most wine taste 'winey', but the odd one tastes 'grapey'. It's usually a very attractive trait in a wine. This wine has it, especially in the velvety softness of the tannins. They taste like red grape skins. The wine as a whole is all about rich fruit, with oak playing very little role. It's not a look-at-me wine, but it's very good. DRINK: 2008-2014." 91 Points, Campbell Mattinson, The Big Red Wine Book – may 2008
Opulent Barossa Shiraz without porty or overripe flavours. Stuffed full of chocolate, vanilla and licorice aromas and has a fleshy, sweetly ripe, sensual texture and decadent flavour. A cuddly warm-climate red that holds it all together" 92 Points, Huon Hooke, Gourmet Traveller Wine – April 2008
Another great-value Barossa red is the $25 Hewitson 2006 Ned and Henry's Shiraz, which has a 9 per cent Mourvédre component. It has sweet, concentrated plum flavour underpinned by licorice, molasses and spice fruit characters and supple vanillin oak. The wine is named after the young sons of winemaker Dean Hewitson. John Lewis, Newcastle Herald – April 2008
It's all black fruits, warm earth, dark chocolate and brazil nut with just a little floral lift. On the palate full bodied with a mix of red and black fruits, some earthiness and again dark chocolate with nuts. Smooth but still chewy and satisfying with fine grained tannins and lovely balance throughout. Rich but not heavy or Porty. Long dark chocolate and nut finish. Beautifully done. An irresistible wine." 93 Points, Gary Walsh, Winorama – January 2008
"Opulent Barossa Valley shiraz without porty or overripe flavours. It's full of chocolate, vanilla and licorice aromas; a fleshy, sweetly ripe, sensual texture and decadent flavour. Now to 12 years" 92 Points, Huon Hooke, The Sydney Morning Herald – January 2008
One of Dean Hewitson's most consistent performers and a great summer BBQ quaffer. Lifts with bright youthful fragrance and charm, red fruits and cola, really lively and exuberant, finishing with fresh berry flavour." Nick Stock, WBM 100 – December 2007
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