Hewitson Shiraz Barossa Valley Ned & Henry's 2007

Hewitson's best Shiraz to date is this lush, creamy-textured offering, filled with dense chocolate and blackberry aromas and flavors. Hints of coffee linger on the long, velvety finish. The price is fair, too. Drink now-2015.

There's a mineral edge to the black fruit, licorice and green olive flavors, lingering on the polished, expressive finish. Best from 2010 through 2016.

Glass-staining ruby. Ripe black raspberry and blueberry aromas are complicated by notes of fruitcake and licorice. Racy, tightly wound red and dark berry flavors show good energy for a Barossa Valley wine, with a firm core of minerality lending spine and focus. Finishes with good sappy persistence and riper plum and cherry notes.

Bright and crisp, this is a distinctive style for a Barossa Shiraz that goes for nimbleness instead of power, focusing the meaty blackberry flavors through the fine tannins on the finish. Best from 2008 through 2015.

Deep ruby. Pungent red berry and cherry aromas show an impressive array of floral and herbal qualities, with bright minerality adding energy. Brisk and youthfully taut, with vibrant strawberry and raspberry flavors gaining sweetness with air. Finishes with silky tannins and lingering raspberry and cherry preserve flavors. This is drinking well now.

A new offering (and a splendid bargain) is the 2002 Ned and Henry's, a 100% Shiraz cuvee loaded with fruit. Made in an exotic, up-front style, it is designed for consumers unwilling to defer their gratification. A full throttle effort with tremendous suppleness as well as explosive fruit, it is loaded from start to finish. Terroirists and those who find fault with wines that give serious pleasure will be dismissive of this offering, but it's a beauty. Consume it over the next 3-5 years.

The fabulous, rich, intense, full-bodied 2005 Shiraz Ned & Henry's displays extraordinary purity and nuance. The bacon fat character found in the 2004 has not yet emerged from the 2005. The 2005 appears to possess greater intensity, richness, and staying power. This wine has the potential to keep for 7-8 years.