Henschke’s Museum and Rare Releases highlight the fidelity and longevity of the winery’s top wines. All these wines were served at a dinner prepared by Alanna Sapwell-Stone Esmay and taken off scribbled notes.
Henschke Johanne Ida Selma Blanc de Noir MD (2022 Mature Disgorgement), Adelaide Hills – South Australia
Pale colour. Intense tonic water, lemon curd, hint red cherry aromas with grilled nut notes. Creamy and buoyant with attractive lemon curd, tonic water/ yeast flavours, fine textures and persistent effervescence. Refreshing and delicious to drink. Based on multiple vintages (1999 to 2019). Crown-sealed 12% alc 94+ points
1996 Henschke Julius Riesling – Eden Valley – South Australia
Medium pale colour. Fresh developed toasty oilskin lime aromas and flavours. Lovely mid plate volume and underlying mineral length. Drink now – soon. 13% alc 93 points
2002 Henschke Julius Riesling – Eden Valley – South Australia
Medium pale colour. Beautiful pure lemon lime aromas with lovely toasty notes. Superbly concentrated and minerally with maple lemon lime, toasty flavours, and persistent slinky, bitter-sweet textures. Wonderful ethereal quality with superb volume and flow. A classic, seductive and memorable vintage. First Class. Drink now – soon. 13% alc 98 points
2012 Henschke Julius Riesling – Eden Valley – South Australia
Medium pale colour. Developed lime cordial, slight oilskin aromas with flinty, toasty notes. Very pure and minerally on the palate with lacy textures and fresh indelible acidity. Drink now 11.5% alc 94 points
2015 Henschke The Wheelwright Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia
Medium deep crimson. Fresh dark berry, liquorice, herb garden aromas. Sweet fruited, supple and generous with ample blackberry, dark cherry fruits, fine grained/ touch grippy tannins, very good mid palate volume and excellent mineral length. Maturation for 18 months is 18% new and 82% seasoned (82% French 12% American) oak hogsheads. 14.5% alc 94+ points
2015 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia
Medium deep crimson. Pure blackberry, sage aromas with mocha, marzipan notes. Well concentrated and classical in structure with plentiful blackberry, cassis, herb flavours loose knit chalky/ silky textures and underlying savoury notes. Finishes claret firm and long. Maturation for 18 months in 78% French and 22% American (22% new and 78% seasoned) oak hogsheads. Drink now – 2045 14.5% alc 96+ points
2015 Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia
Medium deep crimson. Glorious blackberry, strawberry, graphite, hint apricot aromas with herb garden notes. Generously concentrated with lovely complex blackberry, strawberry, sage flavours, some praline, stone fruit notes, superb mid palate volume and mineral length. Gentle yet powerful in presence. A wonderful wine. Maturation for 18 months in 86% French and 14% American (33% new and 67% seasoned) oak hogsheads. Drink now – 2038 14.5% alc 98+ points
1996 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia
Medium deep crimson. Lifted black cherry, dark chocolate with graphite herb notes. Savoury and minerally with well-developed dark cherry/ dark chocolate/ chinotto flavours and grainy firm tannins. Builds up chalky at the finish with attractive length. Maturation for 18 months in new and Seasoned French and American oak hogsheads. (A much better example than in the 70th anniversary vertical tasting). Drink now – 2040 13.5% alc 97 points
2004 Henschke Noble Rot Riesling, Eden Valley – South Australia
Medium amber colour. Fresh apricot, lime, nougat, marmalade aromas with hints of crème brulée. Well-concentrated with abundant stonefruit, marmalade flavours, plenty of mid palate viscosity and well-balanced acidity. Slightly advanced but delicious to drink. Drink now – keep for a while. 12% alc 91 points
