Winemaker Notes
Deep crimson with bright purple hues. Intense and spicy aromas of briary blackberry, blueberry, plum, violets and crushed herbs, with hints of sage, black pepper and leather. The palate is rich and lush, with concentrated raspberry, plum and blackcurrant fruit, moving through to more complex flavors of dark chocolate, ground coffee and a hint of anise, balanced by fresh and lifted acidity, and an elegant finish of long, fine-grained, velvety tannins.
Blend: 100% Shiraz
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Henschke’s signature Shiraz aromas of beetroot-like earthiness is on display her such as roasted root vegetables and very dark chocolate woven with luscious plum and dark-berry fruit. The palate is bold and fruit driven, framed in spicy, chalk dust tannins. A chiseled, still somewhat austere wine that should evolve greatly with time in bottle.
Cellar Selection -
Wine Spectator
Impressive, this is both powerful and elegant, with bittersweet chocolate, fresh blackberry and strong Earl Grey tea flavors that are spicy, aromatic and harmonious. Features fresh-cracked black pepper, a hint of spearmint oil and a touch of cigar box on the long, expressive finish, with polished, dense tannins.
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Vinous
Opaque in color, this 2020 Shiraz Tappa Pass shows ripe, generous fruit, although still in that more understated Henschke style. It opens with graphite and peppery lift well matched to rich chocolate and blackberry aromas. Bold yet beautifully detailed. It offers the best of both worlds with more luscious flavors underpinned by touches of undergrowth and dried herbs before a lengthy finish. Give it a good dose of air if drinking young with at least a decade ahead for the patient.
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.”
Historically and presently the most important wine-producing region of Australia, the Barossa Valley is set in the Barossa zone of South Australia, where more than half of the country’s wine is made. Because the climate is very hot and dry, vineyard managers work diligently to ensure grapes reach the perfect levels of phenolic ripeness.
The intense heat is ideal for plush, bold reds, particularly Shiraz on its own or Rhône Blends. Often Shiraz and Cabernet partner up for plump and powerful reds.
While much less prevalent, light-skinned varieties such as Riesling, Viognier or Semillon produce vibrant Barossa Valley whites.
Most of Australia’s largest wine producers are based here and Shiraz plantings date back as far as the 1850s or before. Many of them are dry farmed and bush trained, still offering less than one ton per acre of inky, intense, purple juice.