Henschke Mount Edelstone 70th Anniversary Tasting

Written By Angus Hughson

Henschke Cellars 24th February 2026

Panel: Prue and Stephen Henschke, Johann Henschke, Gwyn Olsen

By Andrew Caillard MW

The historic Mount Edelstone Vineyard was first planted in 1912 by Ronald Angas a direct descendant of George Fife Angas; one of the founding fathers of the Province of South Australia. At the time the Barossa was enjoying a boom in wine export sales with huge volumes being sent to the UK and beyond.

According to Stephen and Prue Henschke, the grape vine cuttings were probably sourced from Pewsey Vale. The Angas and Gilbert families were neighbours and friends with similar pastoral interests. Although difficult to verify, the original cuttings for the Mount Edelstone Vineyard may have also derived from Yalumba, the nearest winery (with a grapevine nursery), which was ramping up production. By offering cuttings, it encouraged farmers in the district to plant the right type of grape vines. On account of strict quarantine laws, first introduced in 1875, this material is certainly related to James Busby’s 1832 importation.

A new branch railway line, delayed for over ten years, from Gawler to Angaston, was finally inaugurated in 1911 and promised to stimulate the trade in dried fruits, jams, wine and brandy. Already the winery, which specialised in both port and light table wine production, was sourcing grapes from the Flaxman Valley and South Rhine Districts for ‘its light dry hocks and clarets of a delicate nature.’

The friendship between the Angas and Henschke families, which spans several generations, were cemented in postwar aspirations, practicality and optimism. In 1949 Paul Alfred Henschke extended the original stone winery to incorporate new fermentation cellars. By the early 1950s parcels of Mount Edelstone Vineyard shiraz were purchased by his son Cyril Henschke leading to the first bottling of a single-vineyard Mount Edelstone Claret in 1952. Four years later the 1956 vintage won first prizes at the Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide wine shows. Already by 1966, French-born wine merchant André Simon and American-born hand surgeon/ vigneron Max Lake had recognised that Mount Edelstone Claret possessed more ‘bouquet ‘and were ‘less gutsy’ than the dry red wines of the Barossa Valley.

The success of the Mount Edelstone Shirazes led to the acquisition of the Mount Edelstone Vineyard in 1974 and from 1989 substantial work was undertaken by Prue Henschke and her team in regenerating the vineyard and improving vine performance. The astonishing restoration of old vines, mass selection of heirloom vinestock (all based on 19th Century genetic material) and transition to organic, bio-dynamic and regenerative practices have all contributed to enhanced fruit definition and balance while safeguarding the vineyard against drought, disease, climate change and other existential threats.

Adaptation and meticulous attention to detail in winemaking, overseen by Stephen Henschke, have taken the Mount Edelstone story from an early postwar starlet to one of Australia’s most significant age worthy wines. Techniques have evolved combining traditional tried and tested methods with advances in technology. Open vinification in headed-down open fermenters and completion of fermentation in oak are typical. Oak maturation has also evolved highlighting a return to outlooks of a previous generation. A sotte voce impact of new oak is preferred with the maturation effect and vineyard character taking precedence.

With its souring aromatics, pure fruit definition, classical claret structure and beautiful flow, Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz captures and defines the essence of Eden Valley’s distinct and unique terroir. Steeped in Barossa wine heritage, it represents the very best of modern Australian winemaking and provenance, while reflecting generations of family purpose, ambition and belonging. I think most people will agree that Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz is one of the classic wines of South Australia. Its stylish quality and singular character – combined with its age-worthy track record – always brings great anticipation and longing!

Mount Edelstone Vineyard

Established: 1912
Altitude: 380m-400m
Grape Variety: Shiraz – heirloom vinestock relating to 1832 James Busby importation
Area/ yield: 16 Hectares/ 3 tonnes per hectare/ 1.5 tons per acre
Blocks: Nursery, A,B,C,D, E, F,G,H,K & L – Dry Grown
Aspect: Easterly
Trellising & Spacing: East-West Rows | Two-Wire - Scott Henry – 3.66m x 3.66m
Soils: Fine sandy loams over deep, gravelly, medium clays over laminated siltstone/schist.
Agriculture: Organic, Biodynamic and Regenerative practices

1956 Henschke Mount Edelstone Claret, Eden Valley – South Australia

Medium deep crimson. Developed earthy, hint bitumen, tawny-like aromas with apricot, herb garden and lingering sage notes. Well concentrated tawny-like, leathery, crème brulée, touch varnishy flavours, with sufficient buoyant fruit, lacy fine textures and well-integrated acidity. Still holding up very well but will start to dry out soon. Multi-award winning wine at Australian wine shows. Drink up. 13.7% alc 95 points

1958 Henschke Mount Edelstone Vineyard Shiraz Dry Red, Eden Valley – South Australia

Medium deep crimson. Lifted roasted walnut, hint dark chocolate aromas with orange rind, apricot notes. A hint of leather. Supple and well concentrated with roasted walnut, roasted meaty, touch cork wood/ tca flavours, fine chalky tannins and marked acidity. Some bilgy notes. Not the best bottle. Drink up - Past 84 points

1965 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Medium crimson, Wax polish, leatherwood, cinnamon, touch varnishy aromas. Bittersweet palate with varnishy leathery flavours and fine loose knit drying tannins., underlying bitter nuance, some sweet fruit toasty notes roll out at the finish. 88 points

1966 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Medium crimson. Rose garden, aniseed, roasted walnut aromas with hints of liquorice. Sweet fruits, redberry fruits, roasted walnuts, hint praline, bittersweet notes and fresh long pure acidity. Finishes lacy firm and minerally. Drink now. 12.3% alc 92 points

1967 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Medium crimson. Oxidised. Leathery, dark chocolate, cedar - faint tca aromas with liquorice notes. Smooth and developed redcurrant, dark chocolate, cedary flavours, fine bittersweet textures, very good mid-palate volume, and fresh mineral notes. Remarkable – just when you think it has gone. Drink up. 14.1% alc 92 points

1972 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Medium crimson. Herb garden, leather, bitumen, black olive, sweaty saddle/ Bretty aromas and flavours, bitter oily textures, very good mid-palate volume and fresh well integrated acidity. Some earthy notes. Despite the Brett characters, still holding quite well. Some leafy complexity. Drink up 14.3% alc 86 points

1973 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Medium deep crimson. Beautiful dried roses, sage stonefruit aromas with hints of leather and dark chocolate. Supple and smooth with apricot, chocolatey bitter sweet flavours, some cedar notes, fine grained textures, lovely roasted walnut notes and well balanced acidity. Finishes lacy and long. Looks great with lovely mid palate volume giving viscosity and buoyancy. Drink now – keep for a while. 95 points

1978 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Medium deep crimson. Fragrant strawberry, dark cherry, stonefruit, wax varnish, polished leather, geosmine aromas. Developed strawberry, earthy, petrichor, roasted walnut, milk chocolate flavours, fine sinewy/ bittersweet textures, lovely mid palate volume and well-integrated acidity. Finishes silky and long. Looking good. Drink now 14.2% alc 94+ points

1979 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Medium crimson. Cherry stone, leather, roasted hazelnut, stone fruit aromas A touch flat with carob notes. Slinky textured palate with developed roasted hazelnut, earthy, touch apricot flavours, some varnishy notes, plentiful lacy/ chalky tannins and well balanced fresh acidity. Not as fresh as 1978. Drink up 14% alc 91 points

1982 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Medium deepish crimson. Fragrant red cherry/ raspberry pastille saddle leather sage bush garrigue, bayleaf aromas with geosmine notes. Generous red berry leather wood flavours, with oily bitumen notes, fine chalky/ al dente tannins, roasted walnut, earthy notes. Finishes brambly dry and long. 12.5% alc 93 points

1984 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Medium deep crimson. Pure black cherry, praline aromas with herb garden, dried roses notes. A hint of leather. Silky textured palate with ample black cherry, sage, dark chocolate flavours, fine loose knit chalky tannins, very good mid palate viscosity and fresh long mineral acidity. Fresh and complete with excellent concentration and flow. 12% alc 94+ points

1986 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Medium deep crimson. Beautiful and classic dark cherry, blackberry pastille, brambly aromas with sage, roasted walnut, hint bitumen notes. Inky and minerally with attractive developed dark cherry chinotto, blackberry fruits, slinky dry textures, underlying roasted walnut, nutmeg notes, some apricot notes and long fresh indelible acidity. Spicy notes at the finish. Lovely wine at the peak of its development. A classic vintage. Should hold for a while. Drink now - 203012% alc 97 points

1988 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Medium deep crimson. Varnish notes dominate the red fruited, earthy, hint bitumen aromas. Palate is better with red cherry, strawberry red plum fruits, raisin notes, earthy textures, varnishy notes and long acidity. Not a good bottle. Drink up 13.5% alc 85 points

1990 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Medium deep crimson. Intense dark cherry, pure blackberry sage aromas with dark chocolate notes. Supple dark cherry dark chocolate flavours, roasted walnut, hint hazelnut flavours, slinky form textures, underlying marzipan notes and long fresh acidity. Very good density and flow. 13.5% alc 96 points

1991 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Medium deep crimson. Lovely dark cherry strawberry, apricot, marzipan hint geosmine aromas. Silky almost Burgundy-like with dark cherry strawberry apricot flavours, fine loose knit al dente tannins and underlying marzipan notes. Finishes smooth and minerally. Really lovely wine. Exceptional vintage. 14% alc 99 points

1994 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Medium deep crimson. Lovely pure blackberry pastille, dark chocolate, herb garden aromas with roasted chestnut notes. well concentrated blackberry roasted chestnut, hint mocha flavours, loose knit drying tannins and well-integrated acidity. Finishes chocolaty. The fruit is flattening out while the structure is tending to dominate. Still fresh and savoury. Drink now - soon. 14.2% alc 92 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. (This dinner example was  much better than in vertical tasting and so included this instead!) Drink now – 2040 13.5% alc 96+ points

2001 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Deepish Crimson. Pure black cherry pastille, blackberry aromas with dark chocolate sage notes. Well concentrated black cherry pastille, blackberry fruits, chalky/ grainy textures, underlying marzipan notes and minerally long acidity. Claret firm finish with a crunchy quality. Lovely purity and torque Drink now – 2030 14% alc 95 points

2002 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Deep crimson. Lifted black cherry, black plum, praline, hint stone fruit, sage aromas with underlying savoury notes. Generously concentrated and supple with superb rich black plum, pure blackberry fruits, persistent chocolaty textures, wonderful mid-palate buoyancy and well-integrated savoury/ malty oak notes. Finishes firm with star anise notes. A wonderful vintage. Drink now – 2040 14.5% alc 98+ points

2005 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Deep crimson. Intense pure raspberry, blackberry, hint black pepper, capsicum aromas. Generously concentrated and sinuous with gorgeous raspberry, herb garden flavours, slinky textures, superb volume and underlying malt/ marzipan notes Finishes chocolaty and long. Almost as good as the 2002. Drink now – 2040 14% alc 97+ points

2006 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Deep crimson. Fresh raspberry, strawberry, dark cherry aromas with chinotto/ cola notes. Buoyant and fresh with raspberry dark cherry, blackberry pastille flavours and firm chocolaty textures. Finishes al dente firm and tight with sage notes. Lovely gentle vigour. Drink now – 2035 14% alc 95 points

2010 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Medium deep crimson. Intense cola, raspberry blackberry aromas with underlying marzipan notes. Supple and well concentrated with ample raspberry, strawberry, hint apricot flavours, fine chocolaty textures and fresh well integrated mineral acidity. Al dente firm/ chocolaty at the finish. Savoury and minerally. Drink now - 203814.5% alc 95 points

2012 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Medium deep crimson. Intense red cherry, blackberry, chinotto aromas with hints of star anise. Attractive blackberry pastille, dark plum, red cherry, raspberry fruits, grainy/chalky firm textures underlying mocha notes and pronounced acidity. Finishes minerally and long with a tannin plume. Drink now – keep for a while. 14.5% alc 93 points

2015 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

(served at dinner)

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. Drink now – 2045 14.5% alc 96+ points

2016 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Deep crimson. Dark cherry, blackberry fruits, with underlying mocha, vanilla, sage notes. Voluminous yet elegant with intense dark cherry, blackberry pastille fruits, slinky firm/ al dente tannins and underlying mocha vanilla notes, Finishes claret firm and minerally. Lovely purity, richness and vigour. Claret style again. Drink now – 2045 14.5% alc 96 points

2018 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Deep crimson. Lovely raspberry, musky red cherry pastille, bush garrigue aromas with vanilla, marzipan, sage. Well concentrated red cherry pastille, raspberry, bush garrigue flavours, slinky form textures, superb mid palate volume and fresh minerally acidity. Chewy finish. Made for the long term. Drink now- 2045 14.5% alc 97 points

2022 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia

Deep crimson. Very attractive pure elderberry, blackberry, sage, bush garrigue with hints of roasted walnut/ marzipan. Generous blackberry, raspberry fruits, some brambly notes, fresh peppery / al dente/ bittersweet textures, underlying savoury notes, a hint of caramel, and fresh long crunchy acidity. Very pure, tight and incomplete, but should unfold, build richness and volume with a few more years of bottle age. A sleeper vintage? I would bet on it. Matured for 20 months in 8% new and 92% seasoned French oak hogsheads. Drink 2028 – 2046 14.5% alc 97+ points

Angus Hughson
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