Established in 1998 Hewitson winery is situated in the heart of the Barossa Valley on the historic Seppeltsfield Road and boasts some of the oldest vines in the World. Our fruit is sourced from these dry-grown, pre-Phylloxera vineyards of the Barossa Valley and also single site vineyards in Eden Valley, McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills. We believe great wines are the expression of the soils they are grown in and in the seasons they grow. Through knowledge and experience we strive for balance, structure, concentration, power and breeding.

From the many small parcels of fruit we take in from our growers’ and our own vineyards there is always a stand-out. After fermentation the new wine is carefully matured in specially selected French oak casks in our cellars. A final barrel selection is made and blended before bottling.

The reference to ‘66’ in the name here is a nod to the address of the winery, 66 Seppeltsfield Road. Every year, there is a small batch of Shiraz from one of their vineyards which really steps up and astounds. It becomes this wine. The colour here is a deep, dark, near black/purple. The nose just screams all class, and there are notes of chocolate, aniseed, smoked meats, blackcurrants, spices, violets, plums and a little Christmas cake. The texture is seductive, supple and very much part of an impressively constructed wine while the oak is handled superbly. There is great length through to silky tannins, bright acidity and near perfect balance. A stunner which will drink beautifully for the next fifteen to twenty years. Date: Sept 2024; Price: $450.00; Drink by: 2024-2044; Rating: 97 Points; Ken Gargett