The New Baby

Hewitson makes its home among some of the oldest vineyards in the world. Discovering the beauty within these venerable old vines and expressing their distinctive characters through winemaking that respects tradition and understands progress is the essence of Hewitson.

Mourvèdre is one of the classic grapes of the Rhone region, bringing finesse to everything up to a Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

Mourvèdre responds best to traditional vineyard practices with dry-grown, untrellised bush vines thriving in both Europe and the Barossa Valley in Australia. Taking cuttings from the 1853 planting of the Hewitson Old Garden vineyard, the oldest Mourvèdre vines on Earth, we grew, then crafted a wine from Baby Bush vines that takes a new look at an old treasure.

Kangaroos inspecting the grapes at Hewitson

Our Baby Bush vines thrived in the superb vintage of 2012 that saw a slow and even ripening period. The later maturing nature of Mourvèdre grapes meant ripening occurred in Autumnal sunny weather and the grapes benefiting from hang-time in these cooler conditions.

After hand picking and fermentation on skins, the wine completed its maturation for 16 months in the very same barrels used, when new, for Old Garden Mourvèdre. During this period the barrels experienced our innovative batonnage, where we mix the fermentation lees with the new wine by rotating our barrels on little wheels built into the racks. These methods serve to intensify flavour and complexity and offer us complete control over this process, maximizing quality.  The result is an intense wine of unique quality displaying very similar, yet youthful, flavors and characteristics of the Old Garden.

Tasting Notes:

The 2012 Baby Bush is a wonderful expression of this variety. The aromas display classic Mourvèdre richness, ripeness and rusticity. The dark, brambly, blueberry aromas are matched with the sage, earth and undergrowth. These aromas carry right through the palate which delivers a rich, velvety mouth feel, backed by very soft and fully ripe tannins. The structure, balance and youthful poise of 2012 Baby Bush Mourvèdre ensures the wine is extremely enjoyable now. It will also reward with time in the cellar. Rated 94 points by James Suckling. Only $17.49 in the Bottle Club®.