Wine Advisor
Henschke, Mount Edelstone Shiraz 2012
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Saturated ruby. Wild, intensely aromatic bouquet evokes ripe dark berries, incense, smoky Indian spices and vanilla, with a seductive floral quality emerging with aeration. Sweet and seamless on the palate, offering intense blackberry and boysenberry flavors, a touch of anise and building spiciness. Velvety and full but lively too, finishing with excellent power and smooth, sneaky tannins that come in late.
Reviewed by: Angus Hughson
The 2012 Shiraz Mount Edelstone has all the pieces in place. Violets, dark cherries, cloves, licorice and a dusting of spice deliver a superb opening. Bright and linear, the 2012's superb energy continues through the sustained, savoury finish. A more elegant vintage, beautifully executed.
Reviewed by: Erin Larkin
The 2012 Mount Edelstone Vineyard is inky and intense, with saturated dark fruit and savory spice that permeates the palate through the finish. This is laden with cassis, licorice, bay leaf and sage—truly, the identity of this vineyard preservers throughout all the vintage conditions that the climate offers this place. The tannins are persistent, chalky and a little chewy. This is elegant and attractive and will be very long lived. This has a pH of 3.56, 6.5 grams per liter of total acidity and 14.5% alcohol. According to Henschke: "The La Nina pattern weakened in the lead-up to the 2012 vintage, resulting in below-average winter and spring rainfall. Spring was mild with few frost events; however, flowering and fruit set were affected by wet, drizzly weather, leading to average yields. Summer was mild, providing slow ripening, which allowed for intense fruit flavors, high color figures, high acidity and mature tannins."
About the Producer
Henschkes family name and reputation are now being upheld by the fifth generation, Stephen and his wife Prue. Stephen is the biochemist and winemaker and Prue is the viticulturist. Over the past 14 years, Prue`s viticultural management has breathed new life into the vineyards, which fully capitalise on some of the most remarkable old vine material in the world. Both Stephen and Prue continue to craft their white wines with a focus on purity, while their red wines have a strong focus on terroir, using traditional winemaking techniques. The highly sought-after Hill of Grace is the product of vines planted in the 1860s and is Australia's greatest single vineyard Shiraz. HIil of Grace and Mount Edelstone are arguably the two oldest single vineyard wines produced in Australia that tell the wine story of Australia. Henschke Rieslings are the finest in the Eden Valley and amongst the very best in Australia.
