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.
Henschke's commitment to excellence and sustainable wine production has garnered well-deserved recognition and accolades. In 2021, the winery was honoured as the Wine Enthusiast New World Winery of the Year, a testament to their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to pushing the boundaries of winemaking in the New World. Furthermore, Henschke was also named the Winery of the Year by the prestigious Halliday Wine Companion, solidifying their position as a leader in the industry. Additionally, Henschke's unwavering commitment to sustainability and environmentally conscious practices has been acknowledged with the prestigious Robert Parker Wine Advocate Green Emblem. This recognition highlights their remarkable efforts in reducing environmental impact while producing outstanding wines. Henschke's unwavering pursuit of excellence and dedication to sustainable practices make them a true icon in the world of wine.
The beautiful and historic name Mount Edelstone is a translation from the German Edelstein meaning ‘gemstone’, a reference to small yellow opals once found in the area. The Mount Edelstone Vineyard was planted in 1912 by Ronald Angas, a descendant of George Fife Angas who founded The South Australian Company and played a significant part in the formation and establishment of South Australia. Unusual for its time, the vineyard was planted solely to shiraz. The ancient 500-million-year-old geology in the vineyard has given rise to soils that are deep red-brown clay-loam to clay, resulting in low yields from the dry-grown, ungrafted centenarian vines. First bottled as a single-vineyard wine in 1952 by fourth-generation Cyril Henschke, by the time Cyril purchased the vineyard from Colin Angas in 1974, Mount Edelstone was already well entrenched as one of Australia’s greatest shiraz wines. Crafted by the Henschke family for over 60 years now, Mount Edelstone is arguably the longest consecutively-produced, single-vineyard wine in Australia.
A mild and dry winter, followed by a dry and windy spring, saw frost events in September and November that disrupted budburst and young shoot growth. A hailstorm in late November impacted the fresh young shoots carrying the crop, with shiraz the most affected. Warmer than average temperatures in January and February, including the hottest summer’s day on record, led to the advancement of maturity and early onset of vintage. Warm weather in late summer maintained low disease pressure and small berry size, providing optimal ripening conditions. Despite miniscule yields, 2019 was a high-quality vintage with beautiful expressions of varietal character, good structure and excellent flavour intensity. The 2019 vintage will be remembered as a challenging season where regenerative viticulture and organic and biodynamic practices were vital to nurturing the health of the Henschke vineyards through an exceptionally warm and dry year.
107-year-old single-vineyard shiraz grown on the Henschke Mount Edelstone Vineyard in the Eden Valley wine region, managed with organic and biodynamic practices. Matured in 20% new and 80% seasoned (80% French, 20% American) oak hogsheads for 18 months prior to blending and bottling. Deep crimson with ruby hues. Fragrant aromas of black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, bramble, bay leaf and sage, with subtle notes of liquorice, cedar and burnt orange. The palate is rich and lush with well-defined blackberry and red fruit notes, leading to intense and spicy layers of licorice, sage and black pepper. Excellent balance and seamless tannins provide a long, lingering finish.
Nose - Bramble, Sage, Burnt Orange
Blackberry, raspberry followed by dried herbs, a touch of eucalypt and garrigue notes.
Palate - Plush, Savoury, Brilliant Acidity
Supple red and black berries,praline, a hint of marzipan. Fine slinky textures revealing sage, black tea.
Finish - Seamless, Chalky Tannin, Refined
Drying, savoury tannins, mouth covering silt-like texture.
This is, in a manner of speaking, the lady-in-waiting for Hill of Grace - except, of course, she will never upstage Hill of Grace. The wine is utterly flawless, with black cherry, licorice, hedgerow blackberry and spice keeping all the components in Coldstream Guards' parade precision. - James Halliday, 98 Points.
Deep, dark dense red-black-purple colours in the glass, the bouquet evokes dried herbs, hot days under a eucalypt forest canopy, complete with underbrush. Very full-bodied, solidly structured and profoundly flavoured, with masses of drying/savoury tannins that persist long after the wine has gone. Earthy and dried spice aromas of nutmeg, clove, pepper and more, the intensity and refined focus of the wine are impressive as is the almost endless finish. A top example of this wine. - Huon Hooke, The Real Review, 96 Points.
Fragrant blackberry pastille, raspberry, praline, hint marzipan aromas with sage/ bush garrigue notes, Supple and minerally with fresh pure blackberry, raspberry fruits, fine slinky / chalky textures, well integrated marzipan, roasted chestnut characters, attractive inky complexity and fresh long indelible acidity. Builds up brambly firm, pure and tight with star anise notes. A lovely claret style with beautiful volume and understated power. Should age very well. - Andrew Caillard, 98 Points.
The 2019 Mount Edelstone Vineyard Shiraz leads with a profusion of black pepper and sage, violet and raspberry seed, graphite and black tea. In the mouth, the wine is silky and uber fine, with layers of silty tannins that tend to caress the palate rather that sit apart from it. This is a completely seamless release, a beautiful wine. - Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate, 96 Points.
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Shiraz
Country - Australia
Region - Eden Valley, South Australia
Vintage - 2019
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 14.5%
