Henschke Henry's Seven Shiraz Grenache Viognier 2018 750ml

Grape Variety: 65% shiraz, 20% grenache, 10% mataro and 5% viognier grapes grown in the Barossa (Eden Valley and Barossa Valley).

Harvest Date: 19 February-16 March | Alcohol: 14.5% | pH: 3.54 | Acidity: 6.2g/L

Cellaring Potential: Exceptional vintage, 15+ years (from vintage).

Maturation: Viognier co-fermented with shiraz; grenache and mataro fermented separately. Matured in seasoned French hogsheads for 10 months prior to blending and bottling.

Background: The shiraz, grenache, mataro, viognier blend is a tribute to Henry Evans who planted the first vineyard of seven acres at Keyneton in 1853. He quickly developed a reputation for producing the best wines in the southern colony. Following Henry’s death in 1868, his widow Sarah exercised her temperance convictions by closing the winery and uprooting all the winegrapes. This blend highlights the historical introduction of southern French and Spanish varieties to South Australia in those early pioneering days and reflects the history, religion and culture of the Barossa.

Vintage Description: A traditionally wet winter, mild spring and excellent fruit set provided a great start to the 2015 vintage after four vintages with below average yields. Spring was dry and led into a very mild, dry summer with no disease, resulting in fruit with higher natural acidity, and incredible flavour and colour concentration. It was a dry, warm and windy start to January, with some welcome rain at the end of the month coinciding with the onset of veraison; perfectly timed for the old dry-grown vineyards. Mild weather followed from February through to April providing a fairytale vintage, with most of our white varieties and some Eden Valley shiraz in the winery before Easter. Barossa Valley growers red varieties, together with our estate Eden Valley and Adelaide Hills fruit followed soon after, eventually winding down at the end of April as the rain and cooler temperatures set in. The 2015 vintage has provided stunning signature regional varieties that show extraordinary flavour, purity of fruit and acid balance with the potential for excellent ageing.

Wine Description: Deep crimson with purple hues. Complex aromas of spiced plums, ripe raspberries and perfumed florals are complemented by savoury notes of crushed marjoram, beef stock, cracked black pepper and licorice. On the palate, rich spiced plum flavours combine with ripe red berries, followed by a lift of black pepper and anise spice on the mid-palate; a soft and textural mouthfeel showing both depth and elegance, finishing with wonderfully fine, silky tannins.