Henry's Drive Shiraz 2008
-
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Sourced from 4 to 5 vineyard sites mainly consisting of terra rossa soils, the 2008 Shiraz finished fermentation in oak; 60% American, 40% French oak, 30% new. Very deep purple-black colored, it begins with earthy notes of loam and truffles over ripe blackberries, crushed blueberries, warm black cherries and Mediterranean herbs with hints of mint, mocha and violets. Full-bodied with a medium to firm level of silt-like tannins, refreshingly high acid and good amount of fleshy fruit, it finishes long and savory.
-
Wine Enthusiast
A solid, potent example of Shiraz, this 2008 doesn’t show any ill effects of the vintage-time heatwave, offering fresh, clean flavors of blueberries, vanilla and tobacco. Tannins are firm and slightly dusty in style, making this a solid choice with steak or roasts. Drink now–2015, and possibly a few years after that.
Other Vintages
2020- Vinous
-
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert
Named after the proprietor of the 19th century mail coach service that once ran through their property, Henry’s Drive Vignerons is the wine operation established by Kim Longbottom and her late husband Mark. During the nineteenth century establishment of the farming and wine industries of south eastern South Australia, only horse drawn coaches provided the transit of mail and passengers.
The coach drivers reigned supreme on top of their coaches and won the respect and admiration of their passengers. The coach service proprietor in this part of the state was a certain Henry John Hill. His operation drove directly through a property, owned more recently by the Longbottom family. Today, Kim continues to build the business in honor of Mark; with fine winemaking and brands such as Henry’s Drive, Parson’s Flat, The Trial of John Montford, Dead Letter Office, The Postmistress, The Scarlet Letter, Pillar Box and Morse Code. These wines are testament to Kim and Mark’s dedication to crafting fine wines from Padthaway, one of one of Australia’s great wine growing regions.
Proprietor Kim Longbottom, who hails from New Zealand’s famous wine producing region of Marlborough, has winemaking in her blood. Her late husband, Mark was a third generation pastoralist and had a natural affinity with the land. Together, they shared a passion for viticulture and winemaking—a passion that is central to the business. In 1992, Kim and Mark carefully selected sections of their properties for vine planting. Six years later, a dream was realized with the release of their first wines, coinciding with another life-affirming moment—the birth of their daughter, Margo. Sadly, Mark passed away in 2008. A loyal and honest man with a wry sense of humor, Kim and Margo’s loss was felt far outside his beloved Padthaway.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”