Henschke Wheelwright Shiraz 2022

96 POINTS

Ken Gargett - Winepilot

This wine was first made as a tribute to Johann Christian Henschke, the founder of the family business. It was to commemorate 150 years of winemaking. 100% Shiraz from the Wheelwright Vineyard, organic and biodynamic practices are employed, and maturation is for a period of twenty months in French oak hogsheads, 10% of them new. Magenta/purple, on the nose we have notes of blackberries, tobacco leaves, cold tea, aniseed, beef stock, dusty dark chocolate and cherries. There is a touch of plushness running through the wine, which is extremely well balanced and has exceptional length, finishing with fine, velvety tannins. Intensity is maintained throughout, as is that seductive and seamless texture. Enjoy this over the next twenty to twenty-five years.

96 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2022 The Wheelwright Single Vineyard Shiraz is highly perfumed with purple flowers and lifted spice. This is loaded with pomegranate, raspberry, red licorice, pink peppercorn (in that attractive citrussy way that pink peppercorns can bring) and green olive tapenade. This is structural and yet juicy, savory (tannins) but sweet (fruit) and incredibly persistent and lingering. This offers immense pleasure now, but it will, like all the Henschke wines, evolve positively in the cellar for decades to come. The 2022 vintage brings such delicacy and freshness to this wine. I love it. According to Henschke: "The Wheelwright Shiraz expands on Cyril's legacy and his belief in the outstanding quality of Eden Valley Shiraz. On the winery's centenary in 1968, Cyril planted a small Shiraz vineyard in the cooler part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, in the central Eden Valley. It first became a source of Shiraz for his 'Claret' style wines, and decades of patience have allowed these vines to develop their own fascinating character and complexity. As the vines approached 50 years of age in 2018, Stephen and Prue released the first vintage of this wine from the 2015 season to commemorate 150 years of Henschke family winemaking and pay tribute to founder Johann Christian Henschke." AUD RRP $165.

93 POINTS

Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

“100% shiraz grown on The Wheelwright Vineyard on the Henschke Eden Valley property, managed with organic and biodynamic practices. Matured in 10% new and 90% seasoned French oak hogsheads for 20 months prior to blending and bottling.” Ultra plush palate, saturated plums, some cream, some mint, some peppered smoke and then cedar. This wine is dominated by vivid red berry flavours: redcurrant, plum, red licorice. Inlaid there are pepper- and peppercorn-like notes but it’s all about those extravagant red berried flavours. This wine stands out in the Henschke range for exactly that reason: it’s red satin velvet fruit. There was a lot of love in the room for this wine but I was (slightly) less enthusiastic because it seemed comparatively simple – which, admittedly, time in the cellar will likely take care of.

93 POINTS

Angus Hughson - Vinous

From a 54-year-old vineyard, the 2022 Shiraz The Wheelright has a delicious approachability, with a fragrant bouquet of mulberry, musky plums, crushed fennel seeds and spice. The palate is bright and understated wih a sinewy structure. Exotic incense/spice bazaar aromatics build through the generous finish.