Howdy All,
I was fortunate enough to get a few bottles of the Hewitson Mad Hatter Shiraz 2005 & 2006 about a month ago for a reduced rate. On Friday night we tasted both the 05 and 06 and only one word could describe these wines; dissappointing!. The ratings and reviews on the net are sensational and everyone raves about how rich and opulent these wines are. Unfortunately I thought that I was buying a quality wine at $55-$65 RRP and in my view they were both a $20 bottle. Both bottles were decanted.
On the same night we also opened a bottle of the Scarpantoni Estate 2006 Block 3 Shiraz @ $23.90/bottle and a Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2005 @ $39.90/bottle. Both beautiful wines and value for money.
The Hewitson Mad Hatter Shiraz overall was not a bad wine, but sadly was not what I expected for the so called premier wine from the Hewitson winery. Who knows, it may get better over time and might be a tad young at the moment. I have kept 2 bottles in the wine fridge which I will open in a few years.
I am by no means an expert in wine tasting but I know value for money. Has anyone else ever tasted the Mad Hatter?. I have tasted most of the range from Hewitson and overall I have been impressed with the quality.
May I take this opportunity to wish you and your families a safe and Happy Christmas and a great start to 2009.
Cheers
Leigh
Hewitson The Mad Hatter Shiraz 2005 and 2006
Hewitson The Mad Hatter Shiraz 2005 and 2006
WINE - NECTAR OF THE GODS!
Re: Hewitson The Mad Hatter Shiraz 2005 and 2006
Leigh wrote:Howdy All,
I was fortunate enough to get a few bottles of the Hewitson Mad Hatter Shiraz 2005 & 2006 about a month ago for a reduced rate. On Friday night we tasted both the 05 and 06 and only one word could describe these wines; dissappointing!. The ratings and reviews on the net are sensational and everyone raves about how rich and opulent these wines are. Unfortunately I thought that I was buying a quality wine at $55-$65 RRP and in my view they were both a $20 bottle. Both bottles were decanted.
On the same night we also opened a bottle of the Scarpantoni Estate 2006 Block 3 Shiraz @ $23.90/bottle and a Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2005 @ $39.90/bottle. Both beautiful wines and value for money.
The Hewitson Mad Hatter Shiraz overall was not a bad wine, but sadly was not what I expected for the so called premier wine from the Hewitson winery. Who knows, it may get better over time and might be a tad young at the moment. I have kept 2 bottles in the wine fridge which I will open in a few years.
I am by no means an expert in wine tasting but I know value for money. Has anyone else ever tasted the Mad Hatter?. I have tasted most of the range from Hewitson and overall I have been impressed with the quality.
May I take this opportunity to wish you and your families a safe and Happy Christmas and a great start to 2009.
Cheers
Leigh
Perhaps you said it yourself "at a reduced rate". Maybe they had been exposed to a bit of excessive heat.
I had the 06 Mad Hatter last week at a dinner and it was my "wine of the night". This was up against the Mt Langi Ghiran shiraz which was very good but ran second to the Mad Hatter.
Personal opinion only.
Graham
Chardonnay: A drink you have when there is no RED wine, the beer hasn't arrived and the water may be polluted
i agree with Graham, the Madhatter has been an elegant opulent wine for a couple of vintages now, a style which i adore. i don't think its time thats needed, it patience and understanding, not every wine has to be full of primary fruit and oak. i have been fortunate to taste primier wines of the world, from those tastings it seems structure and balance are the main focus of the winemaker.
Thanks Graham,
Interesting!. I tryed very hard to like it but it just didn't happen. Maybe they have been exposed to a bit of heat!. Did you drink it with a particular food?. I personally believe some wines taste better at particular times and several factors may influence the taste, including good wine glass, temp of wine, food.
I like your final words of Personal opinion only. It's so true!!!.
Jay Miller in Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate said "Give it 5-7 years in the bottle and drink it through 2030". This made me think it will get better and better.
I just think there are so many great wines in Australia and I personally can't justify paying more than $30/bottle for a good red. I love trying higher priced wines whenever I can and thats why I ended up with the Mad Hatter. Sorry, but to me who has tasted hundreds of great reds, its an over priced Shiraz.(Personal opinion only).
Cheers
Leigh
Interesting!. I tryed very hard to like it but it just didn't happen. Maybe they have been exposed to a bit of heat!. Did you drink it with a particular food?. I personally believe some wines taste better at particular times and several factors may influence the taste, including good wine glass, temp of wine, food.
I like your final words of Personal opinion only. It's so true!!!.
Jay Miller in Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate said "Give it 5-7 years in the bottle and drink it through 2030". This made me think it will get better and better.
I just think there are so many great wines in Australia and I personally can't justify paying more than $30/bottle for a good red. I love trying higher priced wines whenever I can and thats why I ended up with the Mad Hatter. Sorry, but to me who has tasted hundreds of great reds, its an over priced Shiraz.(Personal opinion only).
Cheers
Leigh
WINE - NECTAR OF THE GODS!
JamieH wrote:i agree with Graham, the Madhatter has been an elegant opulent wine for a couple of vintages now, a style which i adore. i don't think its time thats needed, it patience and understanding, not every wine has to be full of primary fruit and oak. i have been fortunate to taste primier wines of the world, from those tastings it seems structure and balance are the main focus of the winemaker.
Hi Jamie,
What do mean by Structure and balance? . Sorry, but this wine didn't have any of this. Elegant opulent wines are suppose to be wines that give you the 'WOW' factor. Sorry but no 'WOW' in this glass of wine.
Cheers
Leigh
Last edited by Leigh on Mon Dec 08, 2008 8:27 am, edited 2 times in total.
WINE - NECTAR OF THE GODS!
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Daryl Douglas
- Posts: 1361
- Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2003 7:23 pm
- Location: Nth Qld
As you said Leigh, there are plenty of bloody good Aussie wines around for less than $30, even $20 if you look at what others are saying about wines they've tried.
My current recommendation is Blue Poles Hopping Stone Tempranillo 07 ($22). I'm loving it right now. Haven't quite worked out my descriptors for it but it's deeply flavoured, a bit plummy, ripe fruit, soft tannins and acid that provide good length on the finish. Being new to the variety, I've a couple of Tahbilk Tempranillo 07 for comparison later this week.
Cheers
daz
My current recommendation is Blue Poles Hopping Stone Tempranillo 07 ($22). I'm loving it right now. Haven't quite worked out my descriptors for it but it's deeply flavoured, a bit plummy, ripe fruit, soft tannins and acid that provide good length on the finish. Being new to the variety, I've a couple of Tahbilk Tempranillo 07 for comparison later this week.
Cheers
daz
2006 Scarpantoni Block 3 Shiraz
Hi Jamie,
You are spot on about us all having different tastes otherwise wine tasting would be boring. It's a great forum to discuss tasting notes and personal favourites.
In relation to the 2006 Scarpantoni Block 3 Shiraz, I personally love this wine. I tasted it about 10 months ago and was impressed by how good it was. I have since tasted it several times and it has been great every time. I am a lover of full-bodied rich McLaren Vale and Barossa Shiraz's. This certainly fits the criteria especially @ $24/bottle. I purchased a 6 pack for further cellaring.
These are the tasting notes from the winery and they describe this wine beautifully."Produced from 65 year old dry grown vines, the Block 3 Shiraz is the flagship wine of the Estate. Inky purple-black in colour with an exquisite bouquet of ripe, aromatic blackcurrant, liquorice and nutty, toasted oak. The palate is full and rich with coffee, cassis and spice characters balanced by fine tannins and elegant acidity. Ripe and generous with a long finish. Enjoy this wine now or cellar with confidence for 15 to 20 years". .
Cheers
Leigh
You are spot on about us all having different tastes otherwise wine tasting would be boring. It's a great forum to discuss tasting notes and personal favourites.
In relation to the 2006 Scarpantoni Block 3 Shiraz, I personally love this wine. I tasted it about 10 months ago and was impressed by how good it was. I have since tasted it several times and it has been great every time. I am a lover of full-bodied rich McLaren Vale and Barossa Shiraz's. This certainly fits the criteria especially @ $24/bottle. I purchased a 6 pack for further cellaring.
These are the tasting notes from the winery and they describe this wine beautifully."Produced from 65 year old dry grown vines, the Block 3 Shiraz is the flagship wine of the Estate. Inky purple-black in colour with an exquisite bouquet of ripe, aromatic blackcurrant, liquorice and nutty, toasted oak. The palate is full and rich with coffee, cassis and spice characters balanced by fine tannins and elegant acidity. Ripe and generous with a long finish. Enjoy this wine now or cellar with confidence for 15 to 20 years". .
Cheers
Leigh
WINE - NECTAR OF THE GODS!