Hewitson Monopole Mother Vine Shiraz 2020

98 POINTS

Ray Jordan - Winepilot.com

Gosh, from the first sip, you want more. This is a single vineyard with the vines coming from a single shiraz vine from the old mourvèdre vineyard. The grafting process has enabled the creation of a clonal vineyard. It is super concentrated and intense with a slightly liqueur cherry and plum brandy concentrate thing happening. The palate comes to life with vibrant high energy fruit supported with a decent but balanced hit of oak. Distinctive and thoroughly engaging from the outset

97 POINTS

Sam Kim - Wine Orbit

Gracefully rich and alluring, the wine shows dark berry, charcuterie, dried herb and roasted nut aromas, followed by a concentrated palate that's weighty and mouthfilling. This is lavish yet with harmony and structure with an impressively long engaging finish. At its best: now to 2040

97 POINTS

Jeni Port - winepilot.com

Dense and bright in shades of purple, garnet. Love the respect shown here for the grape, bringing forward delicate, fragrant aromas in lavender, sage and green peppercorns while providing a generous background in loganberry, black cherry and bramble, topped by a black olive, bacon fat layer of oak. There is great intensity and concentration, but also there is a delicacy. It’s a rare combo. Fruit is given full sway – super complex and beautifully aromatic – oak is in unison bringing with it a delightful trail of spice, and tannins are lithe and savoury. Not a vinous hair out of place. Delightful now but just wait, if you can

97 POINTS

James Suckling

This has an attractive spiced blue fruit character with notes of plum skins, ground pepper, dried orange peel, crushed violets and tea leaves. Some wet soil, too. Medium- to full-bodied with ultra fine tannins and a chalky texture. Crunchy and succulent on the palate with cherries and blueberries. It has some salinity to it and notes of crushed stones to close. Delicate and polished finish. Planted in 1853. Drink or hold

96 POINTS

Ken Gargett - WinePilot.com

This hails from a single vineyard, growing at their winery, of just a single hectare. It all comes from a single Shiraz vine which came from the vineyard, originally planted in 1853. 33% whole bunches with 20 months maturation in a mix of new and seasoned French oak barriques. Opaque maroon in hue, the nose is mostly red fruits with raspberries to the fore. Red cherries, cloves, bay leaves and leather. On the palate, the flavours move more to the truffle spectrum with milk chocolate. There are silky tannins, and some which are ever-so-slightly grainy, on a very impressive finish. This should age beautifully for fifteen to twenty years.

95 POINTS

Stuart Knox - The Real Review

The grapes come from a single vineyard where all vines were grown from buds from one 1853 shiraz vine and grafted onto existing roots. Deep and dense ruby from core to rim. Rich and intense nose of mulberry, violets, and black olive tapenade. Palate brings a huge intensity of fruit yet with a deft touch that brings life and vibrancy as well. Roses, plums, nori and black olive all meld across the palate ensuring there’s multiple facets that capture your attention whilst fine sandy tannins bring drive, focus and a great deal of length. Many years ahead of it. (Diam)

95 POINTS

Regan Drew - Winepilot.com

33% whole bunch fermentation and matured for 20 months in new and used French oak barriques. Heavy packaging, classic labelling and bottled under DIAM. Potent and powerful nose offering a near full submersive experience from scent alone. Dripping with plum, licorice all-sorts, creamy instant coffee, clove and bazaar spice, toasted chocolate pop-tart, blood orange and hibiscus flower. Flowing, full and concentrated. Charry meaty depth with muscular, brooding scowls. The balance is done with sandy, fine tannins and quite cutting acidity giving a cool-mint refreshment through the long, drying finish. Unique and potent.

95 POINTS

Dave Brookes - Halliday's Wine Companion

Deep plum and black fruits cut with baking spices, roasting meats, tobacco pouch, vanilla bean, cedar, pan juices, dark chocolate and earth. Super savoury, meaty and intense with chocolatey tannins and a rich rum and raisin chocolate vibe on the opulent finish.