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Barossa

Deep crimson with purple hues. Fragrant aromas of blackcurrant, blueberry and dark plum, with notes of white pepper, mace, nutmeg, bay leaf and rosemary. The palate is rich, plush and textural with intense blue fruits and spice, layered with violets and black pepper, balanced by fresh acidity and fine tannins for a long finish.


Product Information

Vintage
2023

Grape variety breakdown

75% shiraz and 25% mataro grown in the Barossa (75% Eden Valley and 25% Barossa Valley).

Technical Details
Alcohol: 14.5% | pH:

3.43

| Acidity:

6.28g/L

| Volume: 750mls

Harvest Date

11 April – 10 May

Maturation

Matured in 3% new French oak and 97% seasoned oak hogsheads for 10 months prior to blending and bottling.

Background

Five Shillings pays tribute to Paul Gotthard, second-generation Henschke winemaker and a member of the early Barossa Silesian community of South Australia. In 1862 he and his father, Johann Christian, established the Henschke winery in the high country of the Eden Valley’s historic North Rhine district, planted seven acres of vines, and in 1868 sold the first wines. In 1873, after a transfer of five shillings, he continued on the winemaking tradition from his father and began to build a reputation for quality wines. Among the first wines they produced in the 1860s were ‘dry white’ (likely made from riesling) and ‘dry red’ (likely made from shiraz and mataro). This wine replicates the blend of Gotthard’s early ‘dry reds’ and is produced from low yielding, ungrafted, biodynamically grown Eden Valley shiraz planted on 540 million-year-old red-brown earths, and blended with mataro grown on the sandy soils of the Barossa Valley.

Cellaring potential

Excellent vintage; 10+ years (from vintage).

Serving Temperature

15°C

Download Tasting Notes

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

Vintage Description

By late winter the soil profiles had been refilled with well above average rainfall, which continued throughout spring. The wet conditions encouraged the spread of fungal disease, such as downy mildew. Shoot thinning during the growing season to open up the canopy helped to overcome disease pressure. A dry and cool December, which continued throughout summer, impacted late flowering and fruit set. Light rain events in autumn resulted in a slower ripening period in the lead up to harvest, which provided great flavour development and acid retention. Despite the challenges of the season, yields were above average with larger berry size compensating for the poor set. The 2023 vintage will be remembered for excellent quality wines with fruit purity, good structure, mature tannins and great length.

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