Henschke Louis Semillon – Pale straw with lime green hues. Spicy and fragrant aromas of meadow flowers, clover blossom and citrus zest with hints of red apple, white currant, freshly cut straw and crème brûlée. The palate has lovely weight and texture with creamy complexity of baked peach and grilled lemon, balanced by crisp citrus acidity, and a long mineral finish.
The grapes were hand harvested in the cool of the morning, with individual blocks picked separately, always remaining separate throughout the vinification process. A small percentage (9%) of wine was aged for 10 months in seasoned French oak barriques to add complexity to the final blend. The remaining 91% was matured in stainless steel on its lees for 10 months, before assemblage and bottling.
In 1966, Cyril Henschke purchased 32 hectares of land on Cranes Range Road, two kilometres west of Henschke Cellars at 500 metres above sea level. Here he planted the Henschke Eden Valley vineyard, on sandy loam soils over gravel and bedrock, with patches of clay. Originally the ground was cultivated for weed control. Nowadays the vineyard has a permanent sod culture of early-maturing perennial rye and cocksfoot grasses in the row. A wheat straw mulch is used under the vines to retain soil moisture, build up organic matter and inhibit weed growth. Prediction of disease pressure through an integrated pest management program results in minimal chemical input in the vineyard. Organic and biodynamic practices have been introduced. A reserve selection from over 50-year-old vines is used to make the ‘Louis’ Semillon. The wine is a tribute to Louis Edmund Henschke (1919-1990), the fourth-generation grower of the Hill of Grace vineyard
The Henschke family have made wine at their estate in the Eden Valley since 1868, with fifth-generation winemaker Stephen Henschke taking over in 1979. Together with his viticulturist wife, Prue, they have built upon their inheritance, transforming this traditional producer into one that is celebrated worldwide. Their two flagship single vineyards wines, ‘Hill of Grace’ and ‘Mount Edelstone’, have become two of Australia’s most acclaimed.
Henschke own three vineyards in the Eden Valley and one in the Adelaide Hills, all of which are farmed in line with biodynamic principles. Prue’s pioneering work in the vineyard cannot be underestimated. Over the past 50 years she has worked tirelessly, vine by vine, to improve the health of the vineyards through meticulous soil management and reintroducing native plants to promote biodiversity.
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£27.00 a bottle
6 in stock
“The Henschke family is one of the longest-established wine names in the Barossa. Johann Christian Henschke purchased land for a farm at Keyneton in 1861 and planted a small vineyard and orchard, and produced his first commercial vintage in 1868. His son, Paul Gotthard, continued farming and winemaking and planted more vines to increase wine production. Upon his father’s death in 1914, third-generation Paul Alfred took over the property and as demand for fortified wines grew, winemaking assumed greater significance. Each generation built upon the reputation for quality, but it was fourth-generation Cyril Alfred Henschke who in 1958 created the wine that has most captured the red wine world’s imagination – Hill of Grace. His first vintage of this Shiraz was produced in 1958.
Today, fifth-generation Stephen Henschke and his wife Prue uphold the family name and reputation, as winemaker and viticulturist respectively. The original two-storey cellar, built into the side of the hill in time for the 1868 vintage, has been added to throughout the generations. Now covered with ivy, the stone building retains an old-world charm with its open fermenters and winemaking memorabilia on display.”
The Eden Valley is between 400 and 600 metres in the Barossa Range, part of the Mount Lofty Range. It shares it historical roots with the Barossa Valley. Yalumba has substantial vineyard holdings, and a winery at Angaston, the site of the first vines planted by founder Samuel Smith in 1849. The cool climate provides ideal conditions for the production of high quality Riesling, Chardonnay and Shiraz wine.
A great varietal from Australia, certainly one to experience. The Hunter Valley is premier region for this grape, especially it’s potential to age gracefully – when young expect unique minerally, lemony, crisp style, and with age develop into nutty, honeyed wine with complexity and depth.
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