Henschke, Mount Edelstone Vineyard, Eden Valley

From Henschke Hill of Grace Experience. This is probably at its peak at the moment. Super interesting wine for sure. There's much red meat game, and a subtle truffle and Cheddar-esque piquancy to it. Lots of Asian spices. Other than that, there's also some eucalyptus and acacia. Plenty of tertiary notes of dried herbs, dried flowers, smoke, vanilla, dried fruits, and even nuts, which I find not too common in Syrah. Surprisingly, beneath all that is this ripe black and …

2000 vintage

In a great place at age 25! Light red color, fruity nose. Red fruit dominantes: cherries, hints of strawberries and raspberries, some blueberries as well. Good length, nice sweetness in the finish. Still some time ahead.

2000 vintage

A little jammy to taste and jammy on the nose, but more my style being more open and approachable than the 2021. Sweet and peppery with some Pinot on the finish. Classic Aussie Syrah? (The question mark being my lack of XP to be definitive about this - had a fairly long break from Aussie syrahs but this is classic according to my recollection and understanding)

2015 vintage

A: deep garnet, bricking at rim N: ripe red and black plum, mushroom, clove, chocolate, olive, black pepper, vanilla, tapenade, blueberry P: dry, full body, 14.5% ABV, med (+) acidity, med (+) very fine, smooth tannins C: outstanding = balanced still ripe black/red fruit and bright acidity, pronounced concentration - so rich in the mid palate, pronounced intensity, long finish on tertiary notes with a touch mint, vanilla and clove. This is outstanding, still in the drinking window, and for …

2002 vintage

Wonderful dark colour with sophisticated almost not Shiraz bouquet. Deep dark fruits with gorgeous fruit weight, polished tannins, long dry finish. So impressive this is in a very good place for drinking right now but will last another decade. Clearly a good year and the best HME I've had. Joint wine of the day.

2015 vintage

Glass cork. Medium ruby color. This wine starts to show itself after 1.5-2hours of aeration in bottle, and keeps improving slowly for 5 hours, until last sip. Mulberry, blackberry, black pepper, herbs, spices, and notes of roasted meat. Medium body, silky tannin, and good acidity. Medium to long finish. A lean and elegant Shiraz.

2018 vintage

Some game, savoury notes on nose and palate, chocolate late. Impressive.

2018 vintage

Still just a pup. The nose felt very jammy to begin. Was expecting a fruit bomb but glad that it didn’t translate directly when tasting. It’s all dark fruits, blackberry and dark plums sitting in front of some fine grained oak. Needs at least another 10 years to hit its stride.

2015 vintage

R3. Tried the 2013 and 2018 together. The '13 had quite a bit of alcohol and acid on the palate. I didn't love it. Interestingly, the '18 was so much more elegant. Very smooth with little acid in comparison. Very nice floral notes through vertical. Tasted at cellar door in Barossa.

2018 vintage

Concentrated and dense black cassis, red and black flowers, oak touch, herbs, nuances of black ink, tannins are thick but not rough, soft, and seem to require very long cellaring

2015 vintage

That was an epic wine from Henschke!!!Aging perfect still with power and rich colour full of fruits with balanced tannins

2002 vintage

very elegant flavor of blue fruit notes. Silky tannin, earthy, need long time of decanting.

2018 vintage

Bob's cellar. Deep garnet red, no bricking evident at all. Nose is that deep, beautiful dark special Shiraz, red earth, wattle and cumin, ironstone and the red land of Australia in a glass. I could smell this all day and I bloody love it. Blackcurrant and aromatic spices, powerful and beautiful. Tasting brings an immediate salty hit, soft but present dark peppery tannins, aromatic bush and blood and earth. Immense wine which retains a full and powerful texture, awash with …

2002 vintage

Langtons classification tasting (Hyatt Regency, Sydney) : Farty reductiveness off the get go, muted black fruits with a sour smelling underpin. That sourness shows on the palate with drying, woody tannins. Meh.

2018 vintage

State by state Australian Shiraz tasting : big, bad, bold style. inky dark fruits, almost raisin-like and a sweet finish. not my style but a very good rendition of it. submerged cap, transferred into hogshead barrels to finish alcoholic fermentation after 7-10 days. 23% American, the rest French. aged 20 months.

2018 vintage

Fabulous wine. Has aged really beautifully.

2000 vintage

Bob's cellar.Dark deep red, can't see any bricking - is fractionally murky? Nose kicks off with dark black cherries and sweet damson fruit, with swirling and a bit of air is that red earth and bloodiness, Australian bush I detect? Definite eucalyptus buds peek through. Tasting gives an immediate hit of iron and red earth, crushed aromatic seeds. Oh lordy! Australian bush in a glass again. The grip and tannin is still there. Is sweet but redcurrant acidity punches a …

2002 vintage

Beef blood, beef stock, iodine, leather, meat, licorice, blackberries, blueberries, violets. Great length. Drinking beautifully now, but has years to burn. Drink over next 5 to 7 year IMO. 98

2000 vintage

Henschke Wines Tasting with Johann Henschke (WineHouse, Los Angeles) : This shows the same terroir which is very exciting. I get similar tomato and balsamic character but way more fruit: blackberry, blackcurrant, and cranberry. I get some eucalyptus along the berry bush notes here. There is maraschino cherry as well. On the palate, it’s more put-together, still medium+ acidity and high tannin. There are the cherries and cedar. It’s balanced with a very long finish of berry jam and dried …

2018 vintage

Yet another glorious bottle of this, starting to show tertiary aromas on the nose and palate but the vibrancy and intensity of the fruit still drives the wine.

2002 vintage

This wine is made of 100% Shiraz from old vines planted in 1912, aged 20 months in oak (77% French, 23% American; 27% new) and is already showing some of its beauty, but is still very youthful. On the palate a lot of sweet spices and beautiful oak and cedar, a firm amount of pleasant sweetness and also fresh acidity and tannin. In fact a beautiful balance between acidity and sweetness. A mouth full of delicious and luxurious wine which …

2018 vintage

Bursting from the glass, still young fruit. Intensity, minerals, clear raspberry fruit, vertical style, certainly. Settles more with air. Drinking a point, but certainly no hurry.

2002 vintage

Deep intense fruit cake. Good freshness and ripe grippy tannins, with loads of fruit cover. Blackberry, plum, spice and pepper. Long and complex. Surprisingly drinking very well now. Will improve and last at least 15 years from here.

2018 vintage

Six Singing Bottles (Our Los Olivos Home) : Served blind, and happily fit hand in glove with the rest of the night's lineup. Intense, slightly sappy fruit, high toned and ripe, with evident oak but not in an overbearing amount. Long, sweet tannins on the finish. Should have upside from here and be very long-lived.

2015 vintage

Moncur Syrah/Shiraz (Bistro Moncur, Sydney) : An odd tar note, reductive and ripe, concentrated, black fruits ,sweet oak, spice, smells quite over-extracted. Medium plus intensity acidity feels quite adjusted, concentrated black fruits, lashings of woody tannins prove coarse flour textured. Nah.

2018 vintage

Shiraz vines from Eden Valley's Mount Edelstone vineyard dating back over a century to 1912. This is the cornerstone cuvee of Henschke. Spicy dark fruits, pepper and such velvety tannins. Bright medium++ acidity. Mount Edelstone has been crafted by the Henschke family for over 65 years now and is arguably the longest consecutively produced, single-vineyard wine in Australia. Planted in 1912 by Ronald Angas, a descendant of George Fife Angas who played a significant role in the founding of South …

2018 vintage

Cremuel and Ubercuvee have written wise words on this wine, so all I can add is that this wine excites and was perfect with Jefferson Starship's recording of 'Please Come Back' from late 1974, with Marty Balin absolutely nailing the rocker version of himself. the pepper and spice makes you want to sing with Balin's soaring vocal; the earth and sensual mouthfeel take you to Grace Slick (the essence of woman but tough as well), and her driving harmonies whilst …

2002 vintage

Deep ruby with Dark fruits and a hint of spice & pepper. Smooth on the palate with well integrated tannins. On the nose - Dark Berry's, blackberry and pepper. Well balanced with superbly integrated acidity and a long finish. Had a glass upon opening of the bottle and decantered the rest, it improved dramatically over the night leaving me wanting more. Fantastic wine. Bought 3 bottles. Consumed one tonight and will cellar the others for a decade. Will buy more. …

2018 vintage

After the 18’ HOG definitely the best of the 18’ reds from Henschke. Darkly fruited and quite precise. Well crafted and quite finely etched . It’s very good but it’s not super exciting.

2018 vintage

Bob’s cellar. Dark inky black red, no bricking at all. Red earth and ironstone nose, eucalyptus, cumin seeds, dark chocolate, an amazing stage of exotic aromas. They are wild and amazing. Tasting opens with the same rich earthy ironstone and red earth, finely tuned cassis and blue fruits, menthol and power with the sanguinity of age restraining youthful exuberance. Years of life appear to be left. Earlier writers reference to haunting blue fruit are so true, plus the wattle seeds’ …

2002 vintage

Bob’s cellar. Deep dark blue black. Nose is huge and smoky red earth and iron stone. Massive and powerful. Decanted, left for a couple of hours. Nose stays swirling and powerful, tasting shows something quite different. There is blue fruit driven mint and menthol, restrained power and life, the concentration of dark fruit is amazing, and finely structured. This is a really interesting and different wine. Can sense this has many years of life left. Tremendously enjoyable.

2002 vintage

Hammer time! At a Syrah focused lunch including Guigal Hermitage Ex-Voto 2001, Chapoutier l'Ermite 2000 & Wendouree, this was hands down the best of the bunch. The haunting blue fruit liqueur note and impeccable balance are really a "must try" for every wine drinker.

2002 vintage

Gorgeous, fragrant ... a wow wine but still young

2002 vintage

Warm, wonderful big wine with a real depth of damson fruit, along with hedegrow, leather, warm earth and roast game. Slight mushroom initially. The structure is soft, this is now and easy drinking wine that slips down easily. Long and complex. Drink now, don't leave any longer.

2000 vintage

Sublime. 20 years old and still sensational. Glorious purity of dark fruit, beautiful texture and just a delight to enjoy!

2002 vintage

Dark; explosive presence on nose; a sumptuous, concentrated, fully integrated palate, stunning finish. A long distance runner.

2002 vintage

No Decant. Drank 1 glass a day over 4 days. 94 points day 1, Day 4 was amazing. Beautiful nose of mint, eucalyptus, blueberries, and pepper. Awesome wine, will be even better at 15 years

2015 vintage

Beautiful, just beautiful. This is a great wine. Wonderful aroma and super refined. Nearing 20 years and still youthful. Dark fruits, choc, tobacco, spice and much more besides. Eden Valley is a remarkable terroir for Shiraz!

2002 vintage

1hr+ decant and could have used more. Dark red color. Interesting nose with metallic, medicinal tones that tingled my nose. Wine has massive strawberry and cassis; and is sweeter than I was expecting. Very concentrated. The tannins reduce with ample air and the spicy aspects dissipate with time as well making it more approachable. Medium finish.

2015 vintage

This is showing the standard potential and depth seen from all the great vintages of Mount Edelstone. The primary focus is of course on the fruit, but with this structure and these tannins, the 2015 will age like the Edelstones from the 90s - gracefully.

2015 vintage

Reasonably dense colour; lovely nose, really gorgeous fruit character which is developing but vibrant. On swirling a more medicinal & herbal supporting character is revealed and some charcuterie aromas; full body but lovely textural quality, fine tannins. Full flavour. Dense but has fresh spine of acidity. Not heavy or overbearing. My kind of Shiraz!

2015 vintage

Blue fruit Liqueur on the nose but that doesn't extend to the palate unlike the last few bottles I've had. it's seamless and beautiful but I would start enjoying these now and the next few years. It will certainly not "go bad" but I think the balance of fruit and maturity is as good as it gets. Depending on what bottle you open you'll be in for a 96-99 point experience, the best bottles of this Ive have been unbelievably …

2002 vintage

Australia Prestige blind tasting (PK-huset) : Had an off note of damp cellar that blew off. This was the wine that had the most pure fruit profile, but also an elegance that felt almost perfect. Not the most expressive wine at this stage, compared to the Kaesler Old Bastard or the Penfolds Bin 707, but it will win in the long run for sure. Really really nice quality here. Highly Recommended. I had no guess here but it came down …

2015 vintage

There is something idiosyncratic about Mount Edelstone that makes it so special. Full bodied with spice and pepper but such a light touch. It certainly compared well to the 2015 Penfolds Grange tasted the same evening.

2015 vintage

Wow. Remarkably this bottle reminded me so much of a bottle I drank on release in Adelaide (2006ish?). concentrated blueberry liqueur notes on the nose and palate and a streak of balancing minerality to counterbalance. Just a super bottle of wine and still quite primary. Legend in the making?

2002 vintage

A beautiful wine with grace and elegance, fresh mouthwatering acidity, red and black fruit flavors, eucalyptus, mint, super silky tannins and a long finish. Today this outshined Penfold's Grange 2011, but the latter just isn't ready for drinking yet. - 94 points

2015 vintage

Australian Far From Ordinary Tasting (Chicago Athletic Association - Chicago IL) : Walkaround tasting, brief note. Now we're talking! Black currant and cassis with a spiced finish. Such impressive concentration made me ask about vine age (planted 1912), while so elegant in fruit, textures and balance. Sneaky power on finish. Tasty now, better 2022 forward.

2015 vintage

Complex aromatics of sage, mint, menthol, blueberry and plum. It is deep with good chew and beautifully balanced and proportioned. Tannins are silky an it has terrific persistence.

2015 vintage

Picking up a rich burgundy thing again , wine is much more mature then a few years back , very nice.

2002 vintage

Return to Aus; 6/23/2019-7/5/2019 (Adelaide, South Australia wine regions, Tassie, Yarra, etc.) : Another jump in the line-up and already you can tell that these last few wines are going to be a different level. For me the Mount Edelstone always gets overshadowed a bit by the Hill of Grace, but this wine is very good and potentially with the difference in price points an interesting one to keep an eye out for. Lovely eucalyptus here. More mint. And fresh …

2015 vintage

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Henschke, Mount Edelstone Vineyard, Eden Valley

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