Henschke, `The Wheelwright` Eden Valley Shiraz
Vintage: 2017
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | HE517B17 | 6 x 75 | Vinolok | Available |
| 2017 | HE517N17 | 6 x 75 | Vinolok | Available |
Producer
The Henschke family have made wine at their estate in the Eden Valley since 1868, with fifth-generation winemaker Stephen Henschke taking over in 1979. Together with his viticulturist wife, Prue, they have built upon their inheritance, transforming this traditional producer into one that is celebrated worldwide. Their two flagship single vineyards wines, ‘Hill of Grace’ and ‘Mount Edelstone’, have become two of Australia’s most acclaimed.
Henschke own three vineyards in the Eden Valley and one in the Adelaide Hills, all of which are farmed in line with biodynamic principles. Prue’s pioneering work in the vineyard cannot be underestimated. Over the past 50 years she has worked tirelessly, vine by vine, to improve the health of the vineyards through meticulous soil management and reintroducing native plants to promote biodiversity.
In 2024 Prue became the inaugural inductee into the James Halliday Hall of Fame, the highest honour bestowed by Halliday Wine Companion: “Prue Henschke is someone who could easily have won Viticulturist of the Year, in any ‘competition’ around the world, every year. She could because every year she leaves her world that little bit healthier, and that little bit better. If the ‘Hill of Grace’ vineyard could talk, you’d reckon that it would thank the world and perhaps even the Lord for bestowing the force-of-nature that is Prue Henschke upon it.” In 2025, Stephen was honoured with the IMW’s Winemaker’s Winemaker Award which recognises outstanding winemaking achievement. Stephen was lauded as “a true custodian of Australia’s fine wine heritage and a pioneer in shaping its future.”
The eight-hectare ‘Hill of Grace’ vineyard, first planted in 1860, is situated in the historic village of Parrot Hill, four kilometres northwest of Henschke Cellars. Though originally purchased by second-generation Paul Gotthard Henschke in 1891, it was not until 1958 that fourth-generation winemaker Cyril Henschke made the first single vineyard Shiraz bottling from its grapes. Cyril then purchased the nearby 16-hectare ‘Mount Edelstone’ vineyard in 1974, from which he had already been buying fruit and making ‘Mount Edelstone’ Shiraz for over 20 years.
For the revered single vineyard wines, the 2021 vintage has been hailed as the standout of the decade and promises to be remembered for wines of complexity with exceptional varietal expression, balance and purity. Renowned expert on Australian wine, Andrew Caillard MW, suggested that the 2021 vintage was “heaven sent” and would be remembered as one of the most spectacular in recent memory.
Vineyards
The Wheelwright pays tribute to the founding father of the Henschke winery and vineyards, winemaker Johann Christian Henschke. He was among the first generation of the early Barossa German pioneers of South Australia, and established the family winery in 1868. Johann Christian arrived as a skilled stonemason and wheelwright and planted his first vineyards in the high country of the picturesque Eden Valley. This wine is produced from Old-Vine shiraz planted in 1968, a century later, by fourth-generation Cyril Henschke.
Vintage
In The Eden Valley, a wet 2016 winter provided a good foundation for Henschke’s dry-farmed old vines. A cool, wet, and windy spring followed, with a slightly higher rainfall than in the Barossa Valley, which delayed flowering. Conditions during fruit-set meant that yields were at average levels. The summer months were mild with frequent rainfall. This allowed the grapes to reach full physiological maturity. Despite the year being much wetter than usual, the significant rainfall events largely missed the Eden Valley. A mild period of ripening finished with the harvest starting in mid to late April, a month later than the 2016 vintage. The last grapes were picked in mid-May. As always, careful hand picking in the vineyard and sorting of grapes as they came into the winery ensured quality was not compromised. This cool but exceptional vintage has produced wines with precision and character, reflecting the purest expression of both variety and vineyard.
Vinification
The grapes were destemmed and lightly crushed into small, concrete, open-top fermenters. A submerged cap was performed in order to manage a slow tannin extraction. The fermentations were controlled with pump-overs being performed twice daily. After 7-10 days and just prior to reaching dryness, the fermentations were gently pressed to barrel with the primary fermentation finishing in 87% French and 13% American oak (16% new and 84% seasoned) hogshead barrels. The wine was matured in barrel for 18 months before blending and bottling.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
Medium garnet with crimson hues. Lifted aromas of red plum, red currant, blue and black berries, rose hip and black pepper, with notes of bay leaf, sage, crushed flowering herbs, anise and hints of cedar. The palate is rich and plush, deep and concentrated with layers of spicy red cherry and red currant, interwoven with anise and vanilla. Balanced acidity gives freshness and poise, finishing with elegant, velvety fine-grained tannins for a long fruit-driven finish.
Alcohol (ABV)
14.5%
Acidity
6.02 g/l
pH
3.52