2022 The Wheelwright Magnum

Eden Valley

Shiraz

Deep crimson with violet hues. Fragrant aromas of raspberry, black cherry and boysenberry, with hints of nutmeg, aniseed, Dutch cocoa, sage, wild fennel and charcuterie. A poised palate reveals mulberry, blueberry and black plum woven with white and pink peppercorn and delicate floral notes, balanced by fine acidity, resolving into a long, silky tannin finish. 

$410.00
$410.00
Deep crimson with violet hues. Fragrant aromas of raspberry, black cherry and boysenberry, with hints of nutmeg, anis...

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BACKGROUND

The Wheelwright, first released to commemorate 150 years of Henschke family winemaking, pays tribute to our founder, winemaker Johann Christian Henschke (1803-1873). He was among the first generation of the early German Silesian community of the Barossa in South Australia and established the family winery in 1868. Johann Christian arrived in 1841 as a skilled stonemason and wheelwright and planted his first vineyards in the high country of the picturesque Eden Valley. This wine is produced from old vine shiraz planted in 1968, a century later, by fourth-generation Cyril Henschke near the village of Eden Valley at 470m altitude. As per the Barossa Old Vine Charter, an ‘old vine’ is equal to or greater than 35 years of age.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Varieties: 100% Shiraz

Harvest Date: 19 – 21 April

Alcohol: 14.5%

Vintage Rating: Exceptional vintage

Maturation: Matured in 10% new and 90% seasoned French oak hogsheads for 20 months prior to blending and bottling.

Cellaring Potential: 30+ years (from vintage)

VINTAGE

The winter of 2021 brought good rainfall, refilling soil profiles, and the cool, slow start to the growing season resulted in budburst occurring two weeks later than average. An extreme hail event on 28 October decimated the young shoot growth across our vineyards in Keyneton, significantly reducing crop potential. Late flowering (late November to early December) avoided the cold and windy conditions, resulting in good fruit set, albeit with smaller yields. A burst of summer heat, without extremes, supported berry development and balanced canopy growth. Welcome rain in late January occurred just before veraison and ripening, leading into a mild and dry finish to summer. The 2022 vintage was late, with harvest dates one to two weeks later than the historical average. The resulting wines speak faithfully of their place, with elegance, distinction and enduring beauty. Reminiscent of the high-quality vintages of 1991, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2015, the 2022 single-vineyard wines show wonderful ageing potential and will reward long-term cellaring under ideal conditions.

TASTING NOTES

The Wheelwright, first released to commemorate 150 years of Henschke family winemaking, pays tribute to our founder, winemaker Johann Christian Henschke (1803-1873). He was among the first generation of the early German Silesian community of the Barossa in South Australia and established the family winery in 1868. Johann Christian arrived in 1841 as a skilled stonemason and wheelwright and planted his first vineyards in the high country of the picturesque Eden Valley. This wine is produced from old vine shiraz planted in 1968, a century later, by fourth-generation Cyril Henschke near the village of Eden Valley at 470m altitude. As per the Barossa Old Vine Charter, an ‘old vine’ is equal to or greater than 35 years of age.

Varieties: 100% Shiraz

Harvest Date: 19 – 21 April

Alcohol: 14.5%

Vintage Rating: Exceptional vintage

Maturation: Matured in 10% new and 90% seasoned French oak hogsheads for 20 months prior to blending and bottling.

Cellaring Potential: 30+ years (from vintage)

The winter of 2021 brought good rainfall, refilling soil profiles, and the cool, slow start to the growing season resulted in budburst occurring two weeks later than average. An extreme hail event on 28 October decimated the young shoot growth across our vineyards in Keyneton, significantly reducing crop potential. Late flowering (late November to early December) avoided the cold and windy conditions, resulting in good fruit set, albeit with smaller yields. A burst of summer heat, without extremes, supported berry development and balanced canopy growth. Welcome rain in late January occurred just before veraison and ripening, leading into a mild and dry finish to summer. The 2022 vintage was late, with harvest dates one to two weeks later than the historical average. The resulting wines speak faithfully of their place, with elegance, distinction and enduring beauty. Reminiscent of the high-quality vintages of 1991, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2015, the 2022 single-vineyard wines show wonderful ageing potential and will reward long-term cellaring under ideal conditions.

97 Points
“This is such a lovely wine, brimming with bright red fruits supported by a fine, bright and lively acidity, fine chalky tannins and a neatly implemented oak. Has a beautifully seductive mouthfeel with tremendous depth and concentration of Shiraz.”

RAY JORDAN, WINE PILOT

96 Points
“This is structural and yet juicy, savory (tannins) but sweet (fruit) and incredibly persistent and lingering. This offers immense pleasure now, but it will, like all the Henschke wines, evolve positively in the cellar for decades to come. The 2022 vintage brings such delicacy and freshness to this wine. I love it.”

ERIN LARKIN, ROBERT PARKER WINE ADVOCATE

96 Points
“There's a lovely core of pure plum and blue fruits over graphite, layers of spice and citrus blossom high tones. Graceful and sleek with melt-in-the-mouth tannins and a bright, sustained finish.”

DAVE BROOKES, HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION

18/20
“Heady, ‘composed’, settled, integrated aromas soar out of the glass. Sweet palate entry with a note of dried grasses. There’s a little leather, too. This seems like a wine you could enjoy already. It leaves a wonderfully soothing trace in the throat, and lasts for several minutes! There is real freshness and delicacy here.”

JANCIS ROBINSON MW, JANCISROBINSON.COM 

18.5/20
“Bright, plummy, seamless and pure, this is another classic 2022… The vines here are now over 50 years old, and they appear to embody a degree of elegance and linearity… The Wheelwright has quietly taken up a position as flag-waver for the mighty Shiraz-based wines from Henschke, and in 2022, it does a brilliant job! … This is the most complete vintage of this wine to date!” 

MATTHEW JUKES, MATTHEWJUKES.COM