2022 Henschke The Wheelwright Shiraz, Eden Valley

This distinctive wine has been an annual favourite of mine from the time it was first released. The vineyard was planted in the Mount Lofty Ranges by Cyril Henschke in 1968 to mark the 100th anniversary of Henschke. This is such a lovely wine, brimming with bright red fruits supported by a fine, bright and lively acidity, fine chalky tannins and a neatly implemented oak. Has a beautifully seductive mouthfeel with tremendous depth and concentration of Shiraz. This is the most southern of the three single vineyards and comes in after Edelstone and Hill of Grace. It’s quite different from those wines. Has beautiful peppery violet fragrances with stacks of red fruit. Drink 2026 to 2056.

97 points Ray Jordan for Wine Pilot, March 2026

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. Drink 2026 to 2042.

96 points Erin Larkin for The Wien Advocate, March 2026

Shiraz sourced from the Wheelwright vineyard in the Eden Valley; aged in French oak, 10% new, for 20 months. Expressive and fruit pure with aromas of blackberry, blueberry and black cherry fruits with hints of brown spice, flowering herbs, sage, a flash of red cherry, violets, cedar, graphite and crushed rock. There's a lovely core of pure plum and blue fruits over graphite, layers of spice and citrus blossom high tones. Graceful and sleek with melt-in-the-mouth tannins and a bright, sustained finish. Drink 2026 to 2050.

96 points Dave Brookes for Halliday Wine Companion, March 2026

Deep and bright red with a purple meniscus; intense raspberry and crushed fresh herbs on the nose, predominantly sage and rosemary, thyme also, the palate soft and fleshy with a firm sheen of fine-grained tannins that persist throughout the length of the palate. Intense spices too—this has the personality of Eden Valley roaring through with its inimitable character. Lovely fragrance; powerful structure; firm tannin finish. This will reward long ageing. Drink 2027 to 2052.

96 points Huon Hooke for The Real Review, February 2026

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. Drink 2026 to 2051.

96 points Ray Jordan for Wine Pilot, March 2026

Mocha, brown spice, black olive, plum and black pepper on the nose. The palate is more plush — plum, blackberry, mocha, white pepper and violet — with bright red-fruited acidity and firm tannins that integrate well. A nice frame and carry, cool and composed through the finish. The Wheelwright does exactly what great Eden Valley Shiraz should — it earns your attention quietly, then holds it.

94 points Tom Kline for Wine Pilot, March 2026

The Wheelwright vineyard is a north-facing site planted in 1968 on grey sandy loam over clay. At 470 metres elevation it is the coolest and most southerly of Henschke's Shiraz vineyards and produces a fine, linear and red fruited expression of the variety.

The 2022 was a late season across the Eden Valley, producing wines of elegance and precision rather than volume and weight. The Wheelwright responded particularly well, delivering a generous crop of excellent quality. The cool conditions are written clearly through the wine's character.

The wine is fragrant and fruit-pure: blackberry, blueberry and black cherry with violets, flowering herbs and crushed rock on the nose, deepening into cedar, graphite and a fine spice thread. The palate is graceful and sleek, with melt-in-the-mouth tannins, bright natural acidity and a sustained, luminous finish that speaks clearly of the altitude and the site.

Allow for plenty of time in the decanter before serving. Drink from 2027 and well beyond.