Product Information:
100% riesling grown on Stephen and Prue Henschke’s Lenswood vineyard in the Adelaide Hills. Fermented in tank and bottled post-vintage to preserve the delicate aromatic fruit characters. Bottle aged at Henschke Cellars in Keyneton for museum release.
Pale straw with lime hues. Fragrant layers of citrus blossom florals, lemon and lime zest, sherbet and bath talcs, with a hint of honey indicating development. Focused citrus juice, Bickford’s lime, lime leaf and grapefruit flavours are complemented by wet stone minerality and tightly wound acidity for a long, fine, crisp finish.
Maker:
The prestigious Australian winery Henschke has remained a family-owned establishment for over 153 years and six generations. Situated in Keyneton, South Australia, within the esteemed Eden Valley wine region, Henschke proudly stands as a distinguished member of Australia's First Families of Wine. Since its inception in 1862, when Johann Christian Henschke planted a modest vineyard in Keyneton, the Henschke family has continuously crafted exceptional wines, forging a legacy of excellence with vineyards in the Eden Valley, Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills, including acclaimed single-vineyards, Hill of Grace and Mount Edelstone.
The fifth-generation winemaker Stephen Carl Henschke and his viticulturist wife Prue took over the operation of the winery in 1979 and they are recognised around the world for their exceptional quality wines, innovative spirit, focus on restoring native vegetation, organic and biodynamic practices in the vineyard. Johann Stephen Henschke, the eldest of Stephen and Prue’s three children has become the sixth generation member of the Henschke family since 1983. With the background of higher education in wine making, viticulture and oenology, Johann is now based at the family winery as winemaker and viticulturist while playing an important role of transferring his skill set and knowledge from the fifth to sixth generation. As the next generation prepares to navigate the well-documented challenges that lie ahead, Johann recognizes the indispensability of innovation and meticulous strategic planning. However, amidst these considerations, he firmly believes in upholding the time-honoured winemaking techniques that have been cherished by the Henschke family for generations. By ensuring that the legacy of Henschke is nurtured with the same prudence and care as it has always been, Johann and his peers can pass on a heritage that will endure and command the same esteemed reputation that it enjoys today.
Vineyard:
There was a below average winter rainfall lead-up to the 2008 vintage in the Adelaide Hills. Spring was mild with rainfall periods in October, early mid-November and mid-December. Fine weather at the end of November allowed for good flowering, which was followed by a dry and hotter than average early summer, which encouraged good growth and some restriction on berry and bunch size. From mid-January through February mild temperatures and cold nights followed, which ensured excellent development of fruit colour, flavour and acidity. Harvest began three weeks early at the end of February with the white varieties, coinciding with an unprecedented record heat wave of 15 days over 35C in early March. The unexpected continual heat seemed never-ending but the natural advantage afforded by the Adelaide Hills is the altitude (600m), which provided cooler growing conditions and assisted with acid retention in the grapes and greater purity of fruit flavours. Handpicking allowed selection of the best quality fruit, producing some excellent to exceptional wines, in particular riesling. It was an ideal season to practise organic viticulture and a season that demanded biodynamics to keep the vines healthy.
Nose - Lemon, Honey, Bath Talcs
Fragrant layers of citrus blossom florals, lemon and lime zest, sherbet and bath talcs, with a hint of honey indicating development.
Palate - Rich, Powerful, Encompassing
Focused citrus juice, Bickford’s lime, lime leaf and grapefruit flavours are complemented by wet stone minerality.
Finish - Long, Curd, Crisp
Tightly wound acidity for a long, fine, crisp finish.
The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Riesling
Country - Australia
Region - Valley, South Australia
Vintage - 2008
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 12.5%
