2024 Mystery Barossa Shiraz Deal No. 5968

97 POINTS

Ray Jordan - Winepilot

There's a purity and vibrancy evident immediately on the nose from this exceptional shiraz from this wonderful season in the Barossa. It was fermented for three weeks with mostly whole berries and then matured for about eighteen months in largely older French oak barriques and just a tiny portion of new. Has a thoroughly delightful, highly fragrant aromatic of red fruits and a palate that almost moves into the medium-bodied zone before it comes crashing back with power and concentrated intensity, delivered with such wonderful, stylish elegance and poise. Thoroughly beautiful wine.

96 POINTS

Sam Kim - Wine Orbit

This is impressively fruited and perfumed on the nose, with blackberry, violet, stylish oak, cinnamon, and dark cocoa aromas, leading to a concentrated palate with velvety texture and silky flow. Splendidly structured by layers of fine tannins, finishing with a great line and length.

96 POINTS

Russ Gallagher - Vino Masters

Deep crimson-purple with a vibrant core. The bouquet is expressive, showing blackberry, plum and dark cherry with lifted notes of spice, florals and subtle oak. The palate is full-bodied and finely balanced, delivering concentrated dark fruits supported by polished tannins and fresh acidity. Layers of spice, mocha and subtle oak build through the mid-palate, finishing long, smooth and elegantly structured. Its balance of richness and finesse is a defining feature. A beautifully composed Shiraz combining depth, elegance and precision. ★★★★★ Refined and modern

96 POINTS

Ken Gargett - Winepilot

Always a joy to see the latest from Hewitson in the Barossa. Inevitably, they will be quintessential representations of the region, offer the potential of great longevity if that is your thing, and provide cracking drinking. This wine is named after the family’s old strawberry patch which grows alongside the vineyard which provided the fruit for this wine. The team like to use whole berries without stalks and then mature the wine in French oak barriques of varying ages for a year and a half. A gleaming purple/maroon, the nose reveals aromas of plums, cherries, bergamot, mocha, kirsch, cold tea, cigar boxes and herbs. Gorgeous stuff and we then move to a supple and focused palate which runs through to the very fine, velvety tannins. Impressive length here with bright acidity, the wine maintains intensity for the full journey. A fifteen year proposition.

95 POINTS

Tony Love - Winepilot

Ripe and spritely Shiraz from a single, old-vine Barossa block, exhibiting an emerging house-style char and flint feel to start, blueish florals as well, keenly tempered at 13.5% abv. The palate is nicely rounded and ripe-fruited, peppery, with a sticky grip in the finish. There are a lot of savoury, earthy elements packed tightly into this wine that open and entertain with increasing complexity after decanting and airing, as well as over the next few years. It’s spot on now, though patience will be rewarded handsomely. (Listed in the Barossa Super 100 Classification).

95 POINTS

Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

The vineyard this wine was grown on is bordered by an old strawberry patch, hence the name. Impressive wine. Bold, floral, concentrated and firm, with generosity writ large but also neatness. It’s mighty and powerful but it’s also controlled. Black berries, ozone, spicy oak, mint, earth and roasted plum characters charge through the palate in authoritative style. The finish brings some brighter, redder berry notes but also also more mint-ozone-earth-toast characters. I haven’t seen Hewitson in such impressive form in ages – if not ever.