2002 Hewitson 'Old Garden' Mourvedre (Barossa)
92 points - Jeremy Oliver
Complex rustic, meaty and earthy aromas of briary dark berries and plums, laced with sweet scents of flowers and chocolate. Long, smooth and creamy palate of pristine dark plum and berry flavours, with suggestions of currant and menthol. Lingering, dark and spicy, and surprisingly soft given its substantial extract.
92 points - Robert Parker
"..It possesses tremendous intensity, loads of power (14.8% alcohol), yet surprising elegance. Raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry characteristics are well-displayed, along with new saddle leather and Mourvedre's mushroomy/tree bark element. The tannin is neither severe nor hard. This dense, chewy red can be drunk now or cellared for a decade." (10/04) K&L's notes - In 1853 Friedrich Koch planted this Mourvèdre vineyard in the heart of the Barossa Valley. In deep sand over a bed of limestone the vines flourished. By the 1880s the local vignerons had already acknowledged the vineyard as the Old Garden. To the end of the 19th Century and throughout the 20th Century subsequent generations of Koch's family have tended these vines in the traditions of the Barossa: bush vines, no irrigation, hand pruned and hand harvested. Today nothing has changed. Old Garden is likely to be the oldest Mourvèdre vineyard in the world. The color is a dense purple-red. Aromas are of spice, prune, blackberry and blueberry. Subtle hints of nutmeg and vanillin are woven through the wine. The palate is velvety and seamless, delivering concentrated black fruits and cherry. There is a slight gamey flavor intermingled with spice, making this wine very complex."
92 points - Jeremy Oliver
Complex rustic, meaty and earthy aromas of briary dark berries and plums, laced with sweet scents of flowers and chocolate. Long, smooth and creamy palate of pristine dark plum and berry flavours, with suggestions of currant and menthol. Lingering, dark and spicy, and surprisingly soft given its substantial extract.
92 points - Robert Parker
"..It possesses tremendous intensity, loads of power (14.8% alcohol), yet surprising elegance. Raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry characteristics are well-displayed, along with new saddle leather and Mourvedre's mushroomy/tree bark element. The tannin is neither severe nor hard. This dense, chewy red can be drunk now or cellared for a decade." (10/04) K&L's notes - In 1853 Friedrich Koch planted this Mourvèdre vineyard in the heart of the Barossa Valley. In deep sand over a bed of limestone the vines flourished. By the 1880s the local vignerons had already acknowledged the vineyard as the Old Garden. To the end of the 19th Century and throughout the 20th Century subsequent generations of Koch's family have tended these vines in the traditions of the Barossa: bush vines, no irrigation, hand pruned and hand harvested. Today nothing has changed. Old Garden is likely to be the oldest Mourvèdre vineyard in the world. The color is a dense purple-red. Aromas are of spice, prune, blackberry and blueberry. Subtle hints of nutmeg and vanillin are woven through the wine. The palate is velvety and seamless, delivering concentrated black fruits and cherry. There is a slight gamey flavor intermingled with spice, making this wine very complex."
92 points - Jeremy Oliver
Complex rustic, meaty and earthy aromas of briary dark berries and plums, laced with sweet scents of flowers and chocolate. Long, smooth and creamy palate of pristine dark plum and berry flavours, with suggestions of currant and menthol. Lingering, dark and spicy, and surprisingly soft given its substantial extract.
92 points - Robert Parker
"..It possesses tremendous intensity, loads of power (14.8% alcohol), yet surprising elegance. Raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry characteristics are well-displayed, along with new saddle leather and Mourvedre's mushroomy/tree bark element. The tannin is neither severe nor hard. This dense, chewy red can be drunk now or cellared for a decade." (10/04) K&L's notes - In 1853 Friedrich Koch planted this Mourvèdre vineyard in the heart of the Barossa Valley. In deep sand over a bed of limestone the vines flourished. By the 1880s the local vignerons had already acknowledged the vineyard as the Old Garden. To the end of the 19th Century and throughout the 20th Century subsequent generations of Koch's family have tended these vines in the traditions of the Barossa: bush vines, no irrigation, hand pruned and hand harvested. Today nothing has changed. Old Garden is likely to be the oldest Mourvèdre vineyard in the world. The color is a dense purple-red. Aromas are of spice, prune, blackberry and blueberry. Subtle hints of nutmeg and vanillin are woven through the wine. The palate is velvety and seamless, delivering concentrated black fruits and cherry. There is a slight gamey flavor intermingled with spice, making this wine very complex."
