Hewitson Ned and Henrys Shiraz 2003

"Dark ruby. Inky, brooding aromas of cherry, plum and dark chocolate. Dense and compact, with deeply concentrated kirsch and dark plum flavors accented by a strong note of allspice. Chewy, rich and concentrated through the moderately tannic finish. This fruit was reportedly cropped at just under 1.5 tons per acre."
-IWC

A very good friend of mine challenged me to produce a full-bodied Barossa Valley Shiraz 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!

The colour of 2003 Ned & Henry's Shiraz is deep red with a purple hue. The aroma is distinctively Barossa Valley Shiraz: 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 Shiraz 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 of Shiraz are full and concentrated yet soft and supple. The tannins are gentle yet persistent and completely mould into the wine. Ned & Henry's Shiraz 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'.