The Hesketh Wine Company is a small, family owned, South Australian producer of high quality wines. Their winemaking philosophy has been shaped by family's extensive involvement in the global wine industry in both the old and new worlds over the past half century. Winemaker Jonathon Hesketh has an impressive pedigree, having worked with premium brands such as Wirra Wirra, Moet and Chandon and Cloudy Bay. His father, Robert, worked in Burgundy, the South of France, the UK, North America and throughout Australia and New Zealand. In 2006 Jonathon and wife Trisha returned to Adelaide to start the Hesketh Wine Company. Each wine is produced from identified, distinguished viticultural sites within each growing region and their fruit sourcing is fastidious. The Hesketh's believe wine is little without friends, food, music and art. As a result, the labels have been designed as a framework for paintings by emerging contemporary artists.

Tasting notes

Dark berry fruits, mocha, vanilla, cedar and coffeewith hints of dried herbs ripe, spicy with hints of vanilla, dark chocolate and spicy licorice on the finish. Neatly balanced with natural acidity and a persistent finish.

Rating

Wine Enthusiast 89 points (Jul 2011) The supple-textured Shiraz displays a slightly herbal aspect to its kirsch-like fruit—something akin to garrigue mixed with olive. Nicely balanced, with lingering notes of cherry and pipe tobacco on the finish. Drink now. — J.C.

Technical notes

The vines are planted in the shallow terra rossa over limestone soils of the Mount Benson and Padthaway growing regions. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in a combination of 50% American oak (2-3 years old) and 50% stainless steel.