Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is the shiraz-dominant blend from Henschke at 60% – with 26% grenache, 7% mataro and 7% viognier. It shows plenty of bright red berries in addition to darker berry-fruit aromas lightened by grenache and spiced up by the other three grape varieties. There's a very crunchy palate with loads of fleshy fruit and a wealth of ripe tannins cosseted in flesh and neatly balanced. This is a truly beautiful regional blend.
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Wine & Spirits
Named for the first seven acres of vines in Eden Valley, planted by Henry Evans in 1853, this includes shiraz co-fermented with viognier, blended with grenache and mataro fermented separately. The co-fermentation lifts the fragrance and adds to the cool, spicy feel of the shiraz. Altogether, this is smooth with fresh blackberry flavors and accents of eucalyptus. Open it on a wintry night to serve with slow-braised pork shoulder.
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Wine Spectator
Lively, expressive and juicy, with raspberry, cherry, tobacco and floral flavors that glide easily into a long and elegant finish. Wellknit and refined. Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro and Viognier. Drink now through 2022.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
The Barossa Zone encompasses the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley. Some of the oldest vines in Australia can be found here.
Barossa Valley of course is the most important and famous wine growing region in all of Australia where 140+ year-old, dry-farmed Shiraz vines still produce inky, purple and dense juice for some of Australia's best wines.
In the cooler, wetter Eden Valley sub-region, the Hill of Grace vineyard is home to famous Shiraz vines from the 1800s but the region produces also some of Australia’s very best and age-worthy Rieslings.