The Wheelwright Shiraz expands on Cyril Henschke’s legacy and his belief in the outstanding quality of Eden Valley shiraz. On the winery’s centenary in 1968, Cyril planted a small shiraz vineyard in the cooler part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, in the central Eden Valley. It first became a source of shiraz for his ‘Claret’ style wines and decades of patience have allowed these vines to develop their own fascinating character and complexity. As the vines approached 50 years of age in 2018, Stephen and Prue released the first vintage of this wine from the 2015 season to commemorate 150 years of Henschke family winemaking.
Henschke Hill of Grace 2018, Hill of Roses 2018, Mount Edelstone 2018, The Wheelwright 2018 and Cyril Henschke 2018 are available through fine wine retailers, restaurants and the Henschke Cellar Door and website.
REVIEWS & ACCOLADES
“Exceptional fragrance, balanced on the first sip to the finish and aftertaste, and glides across the palate. Some oak complexity. A perfect model of medium-bodied shiraz, juicy and supple.”
𝟵𝟳 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 – James Halliday, The Weekend Australian
“Jewel-ruby colour, from the southern section of Eden Valley, this is cool climate in feel, with a focus on perfumed, spiced aromatics of peony and bay leaf, with yellow plum, raspberry and olive fruits. Expect peony, black pepper, even a touch of horseradish as it unrolls. There is an approachability here, and the balance and finesse is pretty irresistible.”
𝟵𝟳 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 – Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
”An enticing and perfumed nose of heather, dried herbs and lavender with roasted spices, peppercorns and ripe, fresh blueberries. Beguilingly sweet but ethereal on the palate with lots of grilled Mediterranean herbs that balance any hint of sweetness from the fruit. Polished, satin-like tannins extend in an effortless, lengthy finish.”
𝟵𝟲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 – Zekun Shuai, JamesSuckling.com
“Warm, salty impression. Lovely lift and delicacy for a wine with 14.5% alcohol!…Long and neat and really lovely to drink now .”
𝟭𝟳.𝟱/𝟮𝟬 – Jancis Robinson, JancisRobinson.com
“This is an expressive and somewhat flamboyant wine with exotic touches on the nose and an over-arching red-fruit theme. There is a pliable, fondanty texture with dark chocolate details, but no excess flesh or unwanted sweetness exists. Overall, this is a more floral, open style than a firm, black-fruited wine.”
𝟭𝟴/𝟮𝟬 – Matthew Jukes, MatthewJukes.com
“Pure mulberry, blueberry and blackberry fruits with hints of fine spice, sage, bay leaf, licorice, dark chocolate and crushed stone. Firm granitic tannins melt into the wine, pure and true with a fine, lively cadence and superb fruit density and detail on display.”
𝟵𝟲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 – Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
“It’s a most elegant wine displaying fine boney tannins, silky smooth oak and sublime medium-bodied fruit. Slightly savoury with traces of sage bush and dark chocolate with other dried herbs merging in the background.”
𝟵𝟲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 – Ray Jordan, RayJordanWine.com.au
“It’s quite a Pinot-esque style of Shiraz: comparatively lighter in colour and body but with a lifted perfume and palate density of creamy raspberry, sharper red plums, potpourri and dried herbs. Long, graceful and delicious.”
𝟵𝟱 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 – Tina Gellie, Decanter
“First Very floral, alluring and seductive, it’s the most perfumed of the winery’s Shiraz releases, with raspberry, strawberry and summer pudding flavours, nicely integrated vanilla and nutmeg spices, smooth tannins, subtle French and American oak and more structure and backbone than you think at first, building layers of flavour on the palate.”
𝟵𝟱 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 – Tim Atkin MW, TimAtkin.com
“Deep, dark red with a trace of purple remaining, and a bouquet of pepper/spice, ironstone and smoky/graphite-like earthiness, the palate full bodied and firm, robust and firm with dried-herb and leather nuances. Long-lasting finish. Excellent wine.”
𝟵𝟱 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 – Huon Hooke, The Real Review
“Seductive aromas in violet, rose, red berries, a touch of cassis, anise, gentle herbals and Eden Valley signature sage. The palate glides along with fine tannins offering a seamless flow of spice-fuelled fruit, expressive, youthful and vibrant… Love the touch of herbal leafiness to close, which adds that elegant finishing touch to what is an already impressive palate length.”
𝟵𝟱 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 – Jeni Port, Winepilot.com
“Medium deep crimson. Pretty red currant, red cherry, blackberry pastille aromas, with mocha, hint rose petal notes. Supple wine with ample red currant, blackberry fruits, fine grippy tannins and underlying mocha, roasted walnut oak notes, Finishes firm with pronounced acidity. Elemental wine with plenty of potential.”
𝟵𝟰 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 – Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal
“Cooler and lifted red, supple texture, lots of ripe and fresh red berry fruits, twiggy spice, alpine herb notes and licks of kirsch and cassis in the mix. Some lavender and violet notes, wintergreen herbs too. Fine, silky tannins wrap the wine beautifully. It finishes with dark cherry and some mocha choc-savoury elements too.”
𝟵𝟰 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 – Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
“A very fine Barossa Shiraz offering an array of flavours – cranberries, soy, tobacco leaves, florals, licorice, truffles, beef stock, dark berries, a hint of chocolate and more before a whiff of black pepper emerges. Good grip at the moment, this is fresh but very youthful… After a few years in the cellar, this wine should drink beautifully for ten to twenty-five years.”
𝟵𝟰 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 – Ken Gargett, Winepilot.com