Henschke Wheelwright Shiraz 2022
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.
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.
Braised beef cheeks.
Captivating aromas of dark bramble fruits, black cherry and satsuma plum are entwined with sage, bay leaf, thyme, black pepper and cedar.
A rich and concentrated palate unfurls black and blue fruits with anise, cocoa, dark spices and crushed savoury herbs, carried by supple, velvety tannins, leading to a balanced finish of exceptional length.
