Photo post: Hewitson 1853 Mourvedre – and Orlando (and a kookaburra)
Although I’d like this photo post to speak 1,000 words on its own, I’ll add a few of explanation.
In the foreground, Dean Hewitson stands in the Old Garden vineyard, which was planted in 1853 and grows today without irrigation. As you can see, the bush vines lie in unruly rows since they aren’t trellised. I tried the 2002 Old Garden Mourvedre and it had gamey aromas characteristic of the grape, as well as dark fruits and smooth sweet tannins. (find this wine; I’ll have to stick it in a blind tasting of mourvedres if I do one of those again.)
In the photo, the lights visible on the hill beyond Dean are illuminating the vast Orlando (Jacob’s Creek) wine making facility. Consider it a study in contrast.
We visited the vineyard at dusk and on the way back to the car, I heard a kookaburra laugh echo across the vineyard. For all you birders out there, you can see/hear the kookaburra here.
On June 16th, 2009 at 3:49 pm ,Bob W. wrote:
I met Dean last year at my wine shop in Connecticut. He did a nice tasting of his wines. I bought a couple of bottles of Lu Lu Sauvignon Blanc which I liked better than his reds. Nice wine.
On June 16th, 2009 at 8:16 pm ,Dr. Vino wrote:
Hi Bob, The Old Garden was the only one of his wines that I tried. Glad you liked the SB.
On June 17th, 2009 at 12:56 pm ,Jon W wrote:
Hewitson’s GSM (Miss Harry) is rather lovely as well.
I like the juxtaposition of old and new in the photo…..
On June 18th, 2009 at 11:29 am ,wolfgang wrote:
The glowing winery in the background is a neat contrast.
You know, he looks like he’s been photoshopped into the picture…
On June 18th, 2009 at 12:34 pm ,Dr. Vino wrote:
Ha, I suppose it does! The sun was setting fast so it was too bad we couldn’t have gotten there a few minutes earlier for better light. But then the lights might not have been on at Orlando.
On June 18th, 2009 at 1:48 pm ,Dylan wrote:
Rather than being photoshopped in I think he just looks caught off guard by the kookaburra’s laughter. I don’t blame him! There’s something so mischievous and hysterical about it.