Henschke Wines – Increasingly popular and some now on allocation
Henschke Wines
This year for the first year we have experienced, some top end Henschke wines are now on allocation, and will be increasingly difficult for customers to source.
In the past Hill of Grace has been rationed, and available only through specific outlets and in relatively small quantities. This year however this rationing has extended to more of the Henschke range including Mount Edelstone, Cyril Sauvignon and Keytone Euphonium. It shows in the age of increasing uncertainty and squeezed incomes that truly great wine of this quality will always be valued and in demand.
Hill of Grace 2017 is deep crimson in colour with violet hues. It has lifted, exotic aromas of star anise, sage, bay leaf and fennel frame dark and brooding blackberry, Satsuma plum, mulberry and red currant notes. The palate is rich, plush and concentrated with amazing depth and complexity from succulent plum, blackberry and blueberry revealing star anise, black pepper, charcuterie and cedar. Balanced acidity provides freshness and structure, while layers of silky tannins result in an elegant finish with exceptional length.
Due to the limited production from this single vineyard, a limit of 1 bottle per person has been applied in Australia. Interestingly we have six bottles in stock and no such restriction applies with us.
This is the sixth generation of the Henschke family producing exceptional wines at their vineyards in the Barossa and Eden Valleys. Originally founded with the first purchase of land in 1862 and the first sales of wine in 1868, the business has been passed down over the ages and is now in the hands of Johann and the family who believe that ” with many of the challenges for the next generation already well-documented, Johann expects that innovation and careful strategic planning will be crucial tools for him and his peers to utilise. Above all, continuing on the traditional winemaking techniques which the Henschke family have used for generations, and ensuring that the Henschke continues to be nurtured in the same prudent way that it has always been, will allow it to be passed on to successive generations and to be held in the same high regard as it is today.”
Their mission is described as “Valuing the past, carrying on traditions and leading Henschke into the future.” They have built on this tradition for over 150 years.
The family are also leaders in the Sustainability movement in Australian wines and many of their wines are grown bio-dynamically. They have been given awards for their efforts in this space – “Henschke recognised with a Wine Advocate Green Emblem for Outstanding Efforts in Sustainable Wine Production”
The current Henschke family see themselves as temporary custodians of the land. They feel the healthy land delivers healthy wines and healthy people. They see the vineyards as gardens ranging from the red gum-studded rolling hills of Eden Valley and the wet, steep slopes of Lenswood in the Adelaide Hills, to the oldest garden, the Hill of Grace vineyard. The vines there are over 160 years old, among the oldest in the world.
The “gardens” include 109ha of vineyards, 32ha of native timber trees and 150ha of bushland under conservation. The cultivated environment has a healthy balance with the natural landscape and the aim is to see the next generation inherit a fertile and sustainable land.
The Henschke vineyards are managed using organic and biodynamic practices. This includes using compost covered with straw mulch, bicarbonate sprays and soil preparations such as cow-pit peat made from cow manure. It is broken down into a rich soil medium that is oxygenated in flowing water and sprayed over the vineyard land four to five times through spring. A preparation, known as 501 and made from finely crushed quartz crystals (silicon dioxide) buried in cow horns, is mixed with water and misted over the vines. The silica crystals reflect more light into the canopy and stimulate photosynthesis.
The vineyards have a permanent sward that includes native grasses, such as Wallaby grass (Rytidosperma spp.). It is active in winter but goes into dormancy in late spring and summer when the vines start flowering, minimising the competition for water. The spring-time flowering bush, Sweet Bursaria, is planted at the ends of the vineyard rows to help with pest control – it attracts native wasps that prey on the Light Brown Apple Moth caterpillars. This system of natural control is also often used in Italy as well as many other European countries.
As a member of the wine industry’s environmental code, Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, they utilise its national program as an Environmental Management System and Environmental Action Plan. Henschke is committed to meeting the requirements of the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia program to ensure we safeguard the natural environment in which our business operates. Their Environmental Action Plan is reviewed annually to guide this process.
Henschke also use biodynamics to manage their vineyards. As with many other wineries they understand the importance of maintaining soil fertility, and also the relationship between the land and the universe. This relationship is expressed in the phases of the moon, the planets and the stars, and guides the majority of their vineyard practices. They are guided by the following –
- Waxing & waning of the moon
- Ascending & descending of the moon
- moon & planets in relation to star constellations
Henschke wines rank with Penfolds as the top wines in Australia. Their range of wines is held in the highest esteem across the world and demand is extremely high. Their 2017 vintage flagship Hill of Grace earned 100 points from one critic, an unheard-of feat in the world of wine, and has led to unprecedented demand for this stellar wine.
Henschke is also one of the “First Families of Wine” in Australia and promotes Australian wines across the globe as part of this initiative.
For more information on the vineyard go to their website
We carry a large range of Henschke wines which can be seen at the online shop
This includes the stunning Hill of Grace 2017, given 100 points by one review and 99 points by Decanter in the UK. We have 6 in stock and there will be no more. We also have one 2016 available.
