Winemaker Notes
Bright crimson in color. Sweet ripe lifted aromas of cherry plums, raspberry, rhubarb and anise. Hints of spicy nutmeg, clove and mace with smoky cedar nuances. The palate is rich and full with supple layered fleshy texture and ripe sweet plum/prune flavors; concentrated and complex with layers of velvety tannins, good balance, weight and length.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2006 Johann’s Garden is a blend of 68% Grenache, 17% Mourvedre, and 15% Shiraz aged for 12 months in seasoned oak. Medium crimson-colored, it emits a sexy aromatic array of lavender, wood smoke, forest floor, leather, cherry, and blueberry. This leads to a broad-shouldered, ripe, easygoing wine with savory, complex flavors, excellent depth, and a long, soft finish. This pleasure-bent wine can be enjoyed over the next eight years.
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Wine Enthusiast
Johann’s Garden gives consumers a taste of the Henschke mystique at a reasonable price. A blend of 68% Grenache, 17% Mourvèdre and 15% Shiraz, it offers restrained, elegant aromas of cherry and cassis with a lifted hint of mint, then adds richer notes of coffee and chocolate on the palate. It’s full-bodied and creamy in texture, with a lush, mouthwatering finish. Drink now–2016.
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Wine Spectator
Offers red plum, blackberry and floral flavors over light but crisp tannins, with a delectable balance that lets the fruit sing sweetly through the long, expressive finish. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Shiraz. Drink now through 2014. 105 cases imported.
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.