Winemaker Notes
Bright ruby with pale ruby hues. Complex aromas of ripe blue plum, blueberry, raspberry and violets, with charcuterie, nutmeg and black pepper, and undertones of lemongrass, turmeric and mace. A rich and supple medium-bodied palate of raspberry, baked plum with hints of musk, and savory celery salt and peppercorn spice, driven by rolling, fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins for a long, polished finish.
Blend: 80% Grenache, 20% Mataro
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A wholly complete and ready-to-drink-now wine, this Grenache-dominant blend is fresh, silky and open-knit. The fruit leads on the beautifully aromatic nose: cherry and strawberry, underscored by savory spice and florals. There’s succulent red fruit and a satiny texture to the midweight palate. A gentle line of tannins pulls it all together. Well balanced, with rounded edges, this is a wine you could sink into.
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James Suckling
Superb freshness to this ripe and plush red, served up in a medium-weight style with blackberries, dark raspberries and cherries, as well as some stone fruit. The bright, ripe tannins are smoothly curled around plump raspberry, plum and dark-fleshed peach flavors. Drinks well now and for the next six years.
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Decanter
Lifted pepper, floral and fruit nose, with a bright, nicely concentrated palate, a sweet fruit core and grainy tannins. Good length and has potential. Blend : 80% Grenache, 20% Mataro
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
An 80-20 blend of Grenache and Mataro, the 2019 Johann's Garden is noticeably lighter in hue than the other reds in this year's Henschke lineup. That's not a bad thing, as the wine still boasts ample concentration and distinct Grenache-ness. Hints of resinous herbs, like rosemary and bay, appear on the nose, alongside hints of strawberries and red raspberries, while the medium to full-bodied palate is framed by soft tannins and built around a core of bright acids that linger mouthwateringly on the finish.
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.