2023 Keyneton Euphonium

Barossa

Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc

Deep ruby with garnet hues. Intense aromas of fresh-cut plum, blackberry, mulberry and blueberry are woven through enticing spice notes of anise, clove, mace and black pepper. A savoury, medium-bodied palate of blue and black fruits is layered with crushed dried herbs, carried by fresh acidity and supple, fine-grained tannins revealing incredible length and depth.

$68.00
$68.00
Deep ruby with garnet hues. Intense aromas of fresh-cut plum, blackberry, mulberry and blueberry are woven through en...

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BACKGROUND

Keyneton Euphonium is a beautiful composition of shiraz from up to 50-year-old vines growing in the Eden and Barossa Valleys, blended with cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc from selected vineyards in both regions. The Barossa hills village of Keyneton, established by pastoralist Joseph Keynes in 1842, was a musical and cultural focus for the community, and home to the Henschke Family Brass Band and Henschke Winery. The band was founded in 1888 by second-generation Paul Gotthard Henschke and later led by third-generation Paul Alfred Henschke, featuring wonderful wind instruments such as a B flat euphonium, cornet and E flat clarinet. The B flat euphonium was produced by the famous Zimmermann factory in Leipzig, Germany, in the late 19th century. The instruments were imported by musical entrepreneur, Carl Engel of Adelaide in the late 1800s and have been lovingly restored to remain in the care of the Henschke family.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Varieties: 65% shiraz, 33% cabernet sauvignon and 2% cabernet franc

Harvest Date: 21 March – 5 May

Alcohol: 14.5%

Vintage Rating: Excellent vintage

Maturation: Matured in 10% new and 90% seasoned French oak hogsheads for 17 months prior to blending and bottling.

Cellaring Potential: 25+ years (from vintage)

VINTAGE

By late winter of 2022 the soil profiles had been refilled with well above average rainfall, which continued throughout spring. Shoot thinning during the growing season to open up the canopy helped to overcome disease pressure. Dry and cool conditions in December continued throughout summer, causing late flowering and impacting 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. 

TASTING NOTES

Keyneton Euphonium is a beautiful composition of shiraz from up to 50-year-old vines growing in the Eden and Barossa Valleys, blended with cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc from selected vineyards in both regions. The Barossa hills village of Keyneton, established by pastoralist Joseph Keynes in 1842, was a musical and cultural focus for the community, and home to the Henschke Family Brass Band and Henschke Winery. The band was founded in 1888 by second-generation Paul Gotthard Henschke and later led by third-generation Paul Alfred Henschke, featuring wonderful wind instruments such as a B flat euphonium, cornet and E flat clarinet. The B flat euphonium was produced by the famous Zimmermann factory in Leipzig, Germany, in the late 19th century. The instruments were imported by musical entrepreneur, Carl Engel of Adelaide in the late 1800s and have been lovingly restored to remain in the care of the Henschke family.

Varieties: 65% shiraz, 33% cabernet sauvignon and 2% cabernet franc

Harvest Date: 21 March – 5 May

Alcohol: 14.5%

Vintage Rating: Excellent vintage

Maturation: Matured in 10% new and 90% seasoned French oak hogsheads for 17 months prior to blending and bottling.

Cellaring Potential: 25+ years (from vintage)

By late winter of 2022 the soil profiles had been refilled with well above average rainfall, which continued throughout spring. Shoot thinning during the growing season to open up the canopy helped to overcome disease pressure. Dry and cool conditions in December continued throughout summer, causing late flowering and impacting 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. 

96 Points
"Lifted inky dark cherry, dark plum, cassis aromas with fragrant herb notes. Generous and velvety with abundant dark cherry pastille, blackcurrant glacé, supple ripe tannins and underlying notes of marzipan and roasted notes. Black olive/herb/ minerally notes emerge at the finish giving further line and length. An exemplary 65th vintage!"

ANDREW CAILLARD MW, THE VINTAGE JOURNAL

95 Points
"...the wine displays remarkable vibrancy and purity. Lively, fleshy fruit is held firmly in place by fine tannins and fine-grained oak, of which only 10% was new. It drinks beautifully now thanks to its balance and harmony, yet it clearly possesses the structure and depth to reward more than two decades in the cellar."

RAY JORDAN, WINE PILOT

94 Points
"It’s so fluid, so charming, so inherently complex and ultimately so well sustained. Its bay leaf notes are threaded seamlessly through blackcurrant and boysenberry; its grass and tobacco-like notes are at one with integrated cedarwood oak. There’s a juicy, leafy levity to this wine but also a dark seriousness. It’s a Claret-style in the best sense of the words."

CAMPBELL MATTINSON, CAMPBELLMATTINSON.COM

94 Points
"It’s got the full Austral blend package, attractive black fruits and bushland aromatics to start, the Cabernet components playing a strong game here with some pretty bold Shiraz working its magic in tandem. Fleshy with a deal of fresh and almost tart acidity to drive the palate, there’s a lot of impressive energy unleashed in this wine."

TONY LOVE, WINE PILOT

94 Points
"Offers a nice mix of Shiraz-lead ripe plums and blackberries married to Cabernet’s cassis, herbs and leaves and tied in unison by woody spices, red earth notes, dried flowers and cocoa."

JENI PORT, WINE PILOT