Henschke Shiraz The Wheelwright 2018 750ml

An enticing and perfumed nose of heather, dried herbs and lavender with roasted spices, peppercorns and ripe, fresh blueberries. Beguilingly sweet but ethereal on the palate with lots of grilled Mediterranean herbs that balance any hint of sweetness from the fruit. Polished, satin-like tannins extend in an effortless, lengthy finish. Vines first planted in 1968. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

From vines planted in 1968 by fourthgeneration Cyril Henschke, this vintage of Wheelwright showcases Henschke's lush but elegant style. Lifted, high-toned aromas of red cherry, beet root, cracked pepper and dried herbs are accented by mocha-like barrel nuances. Savory, fine but granular tannins support the supple, tangy fruit. Freshness makes this wine appealing now with decanter at hand or over the next decade.

A vineyard planted by in 1968 by Cyril Henschke to commemorate 100 years since his great-grandfather (Stephen's great-great-grandfather) Johann Christian – a stonemason and wheelwright – founded the Henschke winery. First released as a single-vineyard wine in 2015, this 2018, from vines now 50 years old, has 'sparked up beautifully', says Stephen, showing the cooler southern Eden Valley's classic red fruit character. It's quite a Pinot-esque style of Shiraz: comparatively lighter in colour and body but with a lifted perfume and palate density of creamy raspberry, sharper red plums, potpourri and dried herbs. Long, graceful and delicious.

The Wheelwright and the Cyril Henschke Vineyards are adjacent and rest at an elevation of 470 meters above seal level, numbering them among some of the highest vineyards in the region. The 1.6-hectare single vineyard from which the fruit hails is planted on a combination of sandy loam and clay, over a bedrock of mica schist and faces in a north through west to south aspect. The 2018 The Wheelwright Single Vineyard Shiraz is 100% Shiraz, matured in a combination of new (21%) and seasoned (79%) French oak (65%) and American oak (35%) hogsheads for 18 months prior to blending and bottling. According to the Barossa Old Vine Charter, an "old vine" is equal to or greater than 35 years of age. I love Eden Valley Syrah/Shiraz for its ability to convey fresh raspberry, black tea, crushed rocks and licorice, each in equal measure, not to mention inflections of sage, bay leaf and even rosemary. The wines are elegant (even when produced in a full-throttle style, which this is not) and age gracefully. Eden Valley looks sensational in this excellent vintage, the 2018 The Wheelwright Single Vineyard Shiraz especially so. As an avid proponent of the screw-cap closure, it is important to note that upon opening, all wines in this release looked cramped and closed. With time in the glass (and no small amount of vigorous swirling), the wines opened up beautifully. A decant prior to drinking is highly recommended, especially if you are going to be drinking them early (i.e., anytime from 2023 - 2033).

This 2018 Shiraz The Wheelright, under a newish label from Henschke, wears its Eden Valley origins on its sleeve. There is an impressive upfront hit of blackberry and black cherry with distinctive dried herbs and peppery notes. Good palate tension follows. Firm drying tannins provide a solid backbone for youthful dark berry fruits and mocha oak layers. It is a little tightly wound right now and needs three to five years to show its best.

Delivers appealingly fresh blueberry, plum and dried cherry flavors, with notes of tobacco, sage, black tea, date bread and rose petal. Revealing lovely, restrained velvety tannins, this is harmonious on the finish. Shiraz. Drink now through 2034. 300 cases made, 20 cases imported.