Produced from vines planted as early as 1860, Henschke's headlining Shiraz is, for many, their Hill of Grace. However, Simon often finds greater value in the equally impressive Mount Edelstone.
I have known both wines for many years and have been fortunate to have participated in many Henschke tastings with proprietors Stephen and Prue. To my mind, there is no doubt that Mount Edlestone ranks as one of the very finest Australian Shiraz, vintage in, vintage out. Atlas' buyer, Vicki, was out in Australia's Eden Valley a few month's ago and had the chance to preview the outstanding 2010 Mount Edelstone Shiraz. Just like Hill of Grace, Mount Edelstone is produced from a vineyard established over one hundred years ago and is made with the same care and attention as the estate's flagship. Henschke's Shiraz are always beautifully expressive, wonderfully fresh and pure yet crucially restrained. There is always an appealing, ripe black fruit character allied to complex peppery, liquorice-like, spicy notes; something mineral with subtle herbal nuances too.They offer a broad drinking window taking maybe six or seven years to hit their stride but are capable of ageing for well over a decade. In fact, I can recall a 25 vintage tasting of Mount Edelstone and Hill of Grace, in which we tasted wines from the 1970’s that were still in fine form.
I have included two notes below, one from Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, who is now the editor of Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate (we were actually both studying for the Masters of Wine qualification at the same time) and the second from James Halliday, a respected authority on Australian wines.
2010 Mount Edelstone, Henschke
£330 per six bottles in bond
97+ points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2010 Mount Edelstone is a single-vineyard Shiraz showing a little reticent at this youthful stage, though it gives delicate black and red fruit aromas that fan out with air to reveal kirsch, red currant jelly, mulberries and Chinese Five Spice notes alongside hints of dusty earth and potpourri. The palate is led by its commendable structure at this stage, with firm, grainy tannins and very lively acid to support the tight-knit fruit. It finishes long and layered. Consider drinking this 2016 to 2026+.
97 points, James Halliday
Bright crimson-purple; so perfectly balanced and composed, its latent power may not be realised….the tannins are superb, the oak of high quality, and totally integrated on the very long, silky finish. Outstanding medium-bodied Shiraz.