Winemaker Notes
Medium garnet with crimson hues. Lifted aromas of red plum, red currant, blue and black berries, rose hip and black pepper, with notes of bay leaf, sage, crushed flowering herbs, anise and hints of cedar. The palate is rich and plush, deep and concentrated with layers of spicy red cherry and red currant, interwoven with anise and vanilla. Balanced acidity gives freshness and poise, finishing with elegant, velvety, fine-grained tannins for a long fruit-driven finish.
Professional Ratings
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Australian Wine Companion
Shiraz from the Wheelwright vineyard in Eden Valley; 18 months in 65/35% French/American oak (21% new). A relatively new addition to the Henschke quiver and one that is fast becoming a favourite of mine. Pure mulberry, blueberry and blackberry fruits with hints of fine spice, sage, bay leaf, licorice, dark chocolate and crushed stone. Firm granitic tannins melt into the wine, pure and true with a fine, lively cadence and superb fruit density and detail on display. Drink or hold.
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James Suckling
An enticing and perfumed nose of heather, dried herbs and lavender with roasted spices, peppercorns and ripe, fresh blueberries. Beguilingly sweet but ethereal on the palate with lots of grilled Mediterranean herbs that balance any hint of sweetness from the fruit. Polished, satin-like tannins extend in an effortless, lengthy finish. Vines first planted in 1968. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
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Decanter
A vineyard planted by in 1968 by Cyril Henschke to commemorate 100 years since his great-grandfather (Stephen's great-great-grandfather) Johann Christian – a stonemason and wheelwright – founded the Henschke winery. First released as a single-vineyard wine in 2015, this 2018, from vines now 50 years old, has 'sparked up beautifully', says Stephen, showing the cooler southern Eden Valley's classic red fruit character. It's quite a Pinot-esque style of Shiraz: comparatively lighter in colour and body but with a lifted perfume and palate density of creamy raspberry, sharper red plums, potpourri and dried herbs. Long, graceful and delicious.
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Wine Enthusiast
From vines planted in 1968 by fourthgeneration Cyril Henschke, this vintage of Wheelwright showcases Henschke's lush but elegant style. Lifted, high-toned aromas of red cherry, beet root, cracked pepper and dried herbs are accented by mocha-like barrel nuances. Savory, fine but granular tannins support the supple, tangy fruit. Freshness makes this wine appealing now with decanter at hand or over the next decade.
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Vinous
This bold, chocolatey 2018 Shiraz The Wheelwright impresses with its rich layers of wood smoke, gravel and earth, with rising dusty cocoa adding a savory edge. Luscious flavors and textures are well matched to sappy tannins, providing admirable tension to the finish. This impressive Shiraz has good potential.
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.”
Higher in elevation and topographically more dramatic than the Barossa Valley floor, Eden Valley abuts it to its south and east. While it is a bit of an extension of Barossa, Eden Valley is topographically different than the pastoral Barossa Valley, and is composed of rocky hills and eucalyptus groves.
Recognizing Eden Valley’s potential with Riesling in the 1960s and 70s, producers started to move their Riesling production from Barossa to these better sites where schist soils on hilltops would produce more steely, tart and age-worthy examples. A most famous site, planted by Colin Gramp, called Steingarten, today produces one of the most outstanding Australian Rieslings. Youthful Eden Valley Rieslings express floral, grapefruit and mineral, while with time in the bottle, they become increasingly toasty and complex.
Riesling isn’t the only grape the region can grow; undeniably at lower altitudes Shiraz does very well. Mount Edelstone is a notable vineyard as well as the Hill of Grace, which boasts healthy Shiraz vines well over 100 years old. This is the only Australian region where Merlot has a made a name for itself and Chardonnay can be spectacular, particularly from the High Eden subregion in the southern valley.