Henschke winery

May 10, 2020 by Vic Harradine

The stone church built in 1860 sits opposite the Hill of Grace vineyard also planted at that time—although it’s not on an actual hill, the land is somewhat flat. The stone-cellar building at the present Henschke winery was also built in the 1860s. Present owner/winemaker and 5th generation, Stephen Henschke’s forefathers were there at that time as well, planting vines and making wine on site—Johann Christian Henschke planted a small vineyard at Keyneton in 1862. Stephen and his skilled viticulturist wife, Prue, continue the incredible success story of this family-owned, family-run, world-renowned winery.They are known not only for their fabulous wine, but for their focus on sustainability and innovative techniques, especially in the vineyard—they have a unique nursery program preserving the genetic heritage of their oldest vines. Their philosophy is, ‘Exceptional wines from outstanding vineyards’. They are proud to be one of the select—only 11—family-owned wineries to form Australia’s First Families of Wine representing over a century of winemaking experience and excellence.

Stone church opposite the Hill of Grace vineyard.

To the knowledgeable wine-lover, Henschke is revered for their owners and their fabulous wines. Prue and Stephen have both received prestigious, personal recognition awards and their wines are the recipients of numerous medals, trophies and Best of Show accolades along with a collective, ‘Winery of the Year’. They have an amazing four wines listed on the prestigious Langton’s Classification of Australian Fine Wines . There are many facets of day-to-day practices contributing to their success with none more important than Prue’s organic/biodynamic farming practices. They diligently follow the lunar calendar making their organic preparations for composting and sprays. They also add mulch under vines and plant native plants to attract beneficial insects that attack pests. It has become the mantra of almost every winemaker on earth, ‘Wine is made in the vineyard’. The Henschkes, past and present, don’t just say it, they live it—with their children alongside—and the 6th generation is now well and truly in training. And, yes, there’s now a 7th, though still quite young.

To order the following Henschke wines by the case for delivery to your home, office or restaurant, simply order from Breakthru Beverage Group. For assistance with locating or ordering their wines available by the bottle or by the case, you can contact their office at 647-790-0550 option #2 or send an email to ordersbw@breakthrubev.com

The Henschkes family.

Upstream in winecurrent

Classics Catalogue Release: January 7, 2021

• The following 2017 Henschke ‘Henry’s Seven’ is a blend of 73% shiraz/17% grenache/5% mataro/5% viognier grown in the Eden Valley and the Barossa Valley allowing it to use the ‘Barossa’ Geographical Indication (G.I.). It was named to honor Henry Evans who planted a seven-acre plot in Keyneton in 1853 and made wine considered the best in the southern colony. Unfortunately he died in 1868 and his wife, a virtuous woman with a temperance philosophy, ripped up all the vines.

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Henschke ‘Henry’s Seven’ 2017
Barossa, South Australia $49.95 (685578) 14.5% alcohol
Violets, red berry fruit and mixed spice intertwine with aromas of black juicy plum and notions of dark bramble berry, It coats the palate with flavours of strawberry and black raspberry mingling with black pepper and savoury notes and framed by excellent acidity riding a wave of passionfruit and red currant. This is medium-full bodied with silky-smooth texture, a firm, ripe tannin underpinning and replays of palate flavours on the dry, mouth-watering finish and aftertaste. Good to go now after a two-hour aeration/decant and on to 2035. (Vic Harradine)

Classics Catalogue Release: TBD 2020 - 2021

• The following 2015 Henschke ‘Keyneton Euphonium’ is primarily a shiraz blend with the following varietal components—66% shiraz/19% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot/5% cabernet franc grown in Eden Valley and the Barossa Valley. Wine matured in 80% seasoned and 20% new, 300-litre French hogshead barrels for 18 months before blended and bottled. An outstanding vintage, this extends its optimum drinking window between now, after a three-hour aeration/decant, and 2038.

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Henschke ‘Keyneton Euphonium’ 2015
Barossa, South Australia $78.95 (407577) 14.5% alcohol
Alluring aromas of dark fruit—cherries, bramble berry and plum—mingle with vanilla, sprigs of savoury herbs and violets on the nose of this structured and complex, thing of beauty. It surges over the palate with creamy-smooth texture and a smorgasbord of flavour with black currant and black juicy cherry mingling with black pepper, sweet vanilla hints of blueberry and mocha. This is framed with good tang and acidity and underpinned by soft, ripe tannin. There’s persistent purity of fruit, good balance and a boatload of charm. It took great discipline to spit, rather than swallow this, when tasting. (Vic Harradine)

Previously Released

• The following wine—2015 Henschke ‘Cyril Henschke’ Cabernet Sauvignon—honors a truly outstanding Australian winemaking pioneer, present owner Stephen Henschke’s late father, Cyril Henschke (1924-1979). Cyril planted cabernet sauvignon vines in the Henschke Eden Valley vineyard in the 1960’s. Fruit for this wine was sourced from those vines that are now biodynamically managed. Wine matured in 80% seasoned and 20% new, 300-litre French hogshead barrels for 18 months before blended and bottled. An outstanding vintage, this extends its optimum drinking window between 2024 and 2040.

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Henschke ‘Cyril Henschke’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Eden Valley, South Australia $215.00 (426395) 14.5% alcohol
An involved nose of delightful aromas—dark berry and black cherry fruit intertwined with savoury herbs, mixed spice and sandalwood—abound. This is medium-full bodied with excellent mouthfeel and is balanced on a pin. It blankets the palate with a stunning mouthful of flavours—black currant, mixed herbs and spice, hints of blueberry and ripe mulberry mingling with espresso roast and vanilla. It’s underpinned by ripe, still-evolving tannin and showcases a monumentally lengthy finish and aftertaste. Open 2024 to 2040. (Vic Harradine)

Classics Catalogue Release: September 3, 2020

• The following 2014 Henschke Hill of Grace was sourced from 100% pre-phylloxera material brought from Europe by settlers in the mid-1800s and grown on the single-vineyard, ‘Hill of Grace’ in the ‘High Eden’ at approximately 400m. The now biodynamically farmed vineyard is located opposite a beautiful Lutheran church named after a region in Silesia called ‘Gnadenberg’, meaning, Hill of Grace. This wine was matured 18 months in 89% French and 11% American, 33% new and 67% seasoned—300-litre hogsheads. The Henschke’s borrow words of the Greek poet, Homer, to describe the Hill of Grace 2014 vintage, ‘Beauty — it was a glorious gift of nature.’ An excellent vintage, this extends its optimum drinking window between 2023 and +2040.

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Henschke ‘Hill of Grace’ 2014
Eden Valley, South Australia $1,130.00 (399675) 14.5% alcohol
Aromas of violets, black pepper, sage and savoury herbs interlace with black bramble berry and juicy black cherry. This is fresh and lively on the palate with a gusher of ripe bramble berry and blueberry flavour mingling and melding with gamy notes, savoury herbs, spice and an underpinning of fine, ripe tannin that extends, along with palate replays, through the lengthy, lip-smacking finish and aftertaste. This has long life ahead that will repay patience; open between 2023 and +2040. (Vic Harradine)

Upstream in Winecurrent

Vintage Release Date: TBD

• The following 2017 Tilly’s Vineyard white blend—55% semillon/22%sauvignon blanc/12% pinot gris/6% chardonnay/5% riesling—was sourced in the Eden Valley and the Henschke Lenswood vineyard in the Adelaide Hills. It pays homage to great-aunt Ottilie Mathilde ‘Tilly’ Henschke and to most women of her era that worked the land, grew their own produce and raised a large family. The Lenswood vineyard in the Adelaide Hills was caught up with the fires that swept through there in early 2020. We tasted the wines below at Henschke not long after on March 12, 2020 and at that time they said some of the vines might survive. A real shame, if they don’t.

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Henschke ‘Tilly’s Vineyard’ 2017
Eden Valley and Adelaide Hills, South Australia $30.00 12.0% alcohol
Fruit for this wine was sourced from a standout vintage giving the bottled wine optimum drinking life until, at least, 2026. It’s pale-yellow hued with hints of green on the edges. Aromas of green savoury herbs and yellow peach mingle with citrus notes on the nose. A medium-bodied, creamy smooth wash of Key lime, yellow nectarine and lemon race across the palate with great élan. These flavours and their lively tang persist through the crisp and refreshing finish and aftertaste. Versatile at the table, pour with pan-seared fish or seafood under a squeeze of fresh lemon or lemon chicken. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2019 Henschke ‘Julius’ Riesling was named in honor of the present owner Stephen Henschke’s late, great-uncle, Julius Henschke, who was, and still is, known for his artistic prowess as an artist and sculpture. His most inspiring work is the War Memorial on North Terrace in Adelaide. Fruit for the following wine was sourced from the Eden Valley and from 100% Riesling with the majority from 50-year-old and even older estate, biodynamic-certified vines. This is the 28th vintage of this ‘Julius’ riesling.

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Henschke ‘Julius’ Riesling 2019
Eden Valley, South Australia $55.00 11.5% alcohol
This leaps from the glass with myriad aromas of floral notes, lemon-lime zest, sharp, flinty notes and exotic piquant spice. It races over the palate in a laser-like line of bracing acidity expressed in palate flavours with excellent tension—white grapefruit, saline notes and lime cordial. This medium-bodied, well textured gem has an extended life ahead, now to 2028 with careful cellar management in place. There is persistent purity of fruit and dry, crisp, thirst-quenching flavours throughout. Pour with duck confit or charcuterie board with a baguette. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2015 Henschke ‘Mount Edelstone’ Shiraz is sourced from a vineyard of vines originally supplied by James Busby who had sourced from some of the best shiraz vines in France including Hermitage. It was Ronald Angas who fell in love with French red wines who dreamed of this single-varietal vineyard of shiraz while studying at Oxford and planted it some 107 years before fruit for this wine was harvested from it. In 1952, 5th generation Colin Angas offered the fruit from this vineyard to his neighbour, 4th generation winemaker Cyril Henschke. And the rest, they say, is history.

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Henschke ‘Mount Edelstone’ Shiraz 2015
Eden Valley, South Australia $270.00 14.5% alcohol
This is rich, luscious and structured with great purity of fruit, balance and an über-lengthy finish. It opens with lifted aromas of savoury herbs, eucalyptus and a pleasant volley of fruit aromas with black currant, juicy dark Bing cherry interwoven with wisps of rose petals and cedar. The palate’s treated to a fully textured river of dark bramble berry, black cherry and blueberry decorated with dried herbs and black pepper. It finishes lengthy and luscious with good tang and acidity and firm, ripe tannin that almost melts in your mouth. This took great willpower to spit, rather than swallow. Drink now after a three-hour aeration/decant and on to +2040. (Vic Harradine)