Century-old single vineyard Shiraz, planted 1912, growing in the northern section of Eden Valley where there are abundant clay soils. Of the range of single vineyards, this one has clear depth of colour, and plenty of plump fruit, juice and balance. Sit back and feel your tastebuds firing up with pepper, sage, bayleaf, explosive layers of spiced blueberry and raspberry fruit forming an arrow through the palate. Crazy depths, velvety fine tannins, a real showcase of Eden Valley Shiraz. Organic and biodynamic farming. 27% new oak, a mix of largely French with some American oak, large sized. Dry farmed (although the following year, 2019, the option to irrigate was introduced). Winemaker Stephen Henschke.

The Mount Edelstone vineyard is in Eden Valley and is 16 hectares. It was planted in 1912 by Ronald Angas, classifying the ungrafted, dry-grown vines here as centenarian vines (according to the Barossa Old Vine Charter) at 106 years old. The soils consist of red-brown clay-loam. The 2018 Mount Edelstone Vineyard Shiraz is 100% Shiraz, matured in a combination of 27% new and 73% seasoned oak hogsheads (77% French, 23% American) for 20 months prior to blending and bottling. This is forever one of my favorite wines at Henschke—it speaks so clearly of my perception of Eden Valley. It is equally rocky/mineral/of the earth, as it is saturated in black and red fruits. The tannins are svelte and seamless. The gentle impact of the American oak is evident in the sweet bed of plump tannin and the slight gloss to the fruit. There is a grace and beauty to the palate, as usual. While Henschke rates this great 2018 vintage as being on par with the 2015 and 2016, they put it slightly behind 2012. You make up your own mind, however I am enamored by the wines I have tasted from 2018. Super wine. (14.5% alcohol, pH 3.4, total acidity of 6.47 grams per liter). (EL)

This 2018 Shiraz Mount Edelstone is made with fruit from vines planted in 1912. It is a reserved yet highly complex Barossan style bringing broody aromas of roasted meats, soy sauce, blackberry, and fennel seed with oak in good support. Richly powered, it retains its composure while rippling with black olive and blackberry flavors kept in shape by firm chocolaty tannins. A dense and sustained finish confirms an excellent vintage with long cellaring potential. (AH)