2021 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley

I used to live next door to this 109-year-old vineyard for nearly a decade and have seen the hard work and attention to detail that goes into its farming. The 2021 is an absolute stunner from a great vintage and I've no doubt that this will age gracefully for decades. The length of flavour with this release is quite something; the fruit is sleek, plush and on-point pure. Blackberry, Doris plum and black cherry layer with spice and hints of sage, bay leaf, pepper, olive tapenade, anise, violets and stone. Velvety and graceful in its flow on the palate with a fresh mineral cadence and superfine, powdered granitic tannins for support. It'll go down as one of the greats.

98 points Dave Brookes winecompanion.com.au

Henschke’s Mount Edelstone Shiraz is one of Australia’s true vinous icons and a cornerstone of Eden Valley’s reputation for world-class Shiraz. First planted in 1912 by Ronald Angas on a site named after the German word for “gemstone hill,” the Mount Edelstone vineyard is now among the most historic single vineyards in the country. Since the 1950s, the Henschke family has carefully stewarded this site, with Cyril Henschke first bottling it as a single-vineyard wine in 1952 – one of the earliest examples of the practice in Australia.

Stephen and Prue Henschke continue that legacy today, producing Mount Edelstone from low-yielding, centenarian vines rooted in ancient red-brown earth over limestone and schist. The terroir gifts the wine its hallmark combination of elegance and power. Aromas of blackberry, mulberry and spiced plum are layered with hints of sage, black pepper, cedar and fine earth. The palate shows remarkable poise, with dark fruits and savoury spice carried by silken tannins and a line of bright acidity, finishing long and harmonious. It is a wine that balances strength and grace, showcasing Eden Valley’s cooler climate style of Shiraz.

At the table, Mount Edelstone is magnificent with slow-braised lamb shoulder, venison, roast duck, or richly sauced beef dishes. For something more adventurous, it pairs beautifully with chargrilled eggplant, porcini risotto or even dark chocolate spiced with pepper. It is also a wine with a commanding ability to age, regularly rewarding cellaring of 20 to 30 years, where it develops truffle, tobacco and leather notes without losing its vibrant core of fruit.