Henschke : Mount Edelstone 2021

Tasting notes and tips for Henschke’s Mount Edelstone 2021

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a deep hue with brilliant ruby highlights.

Nose

Intensely fragrant, the nose reveals aromas of blackberry, blueberry and Satsuma plum, underscored by signature spicy notes of black, white and green pepper. Herbal touches of wild sage, fresh bay leaf and bouquet garni thyme complete this complex bouquet, lifted by hints of cedar and floral herbs.

Palate

Complex and generous, the palate unfurls black and blue fruits, rich dark licorice and freshly cut herbs. The texture is elegant and full-bodied, carried by velvety, ultra-fine tannins of great finesse. Exceptionally long and detailed, the finish lingers on persistent notes of black pepper and sage, with a fresh mineral cadence.

Food and wine pairings

This Shiraz is an ideal match for red meats and game. It pairs beautifully with braised beef, a beef and Guinness pie, or slow-cooked beef cheeks served with a tamarind and chili sauce.

Serving and cellaring

The Mount Edelstone 2021 can be enjoyed now but will continue to evolve through to around 2054. It is recommended to store it under optimal cellar conditions.

An iconic Eden Valley Shiraz shaped by six generations of passion

The estate

Founded in 1868 by Johann Christian Henschke, the Henschke House is one of Australia’s oldest wine dynasties. Based in Keyneton in Southern Australia, the estate now spans 105 hectares of vineyards. Currently led by Stephen Henschke, fifth-generation winemaker, alongside his wife Prue, an internationally renowned viticulturist, and their son Johann, representing the sixth generation, the House remains entirely family-owned and independent. A pioneer of single-vineyard wines in Australia since 1952, Henschke embodies the excellence of Australian Shiraz through cuvées certified organic and biodynamic for several decades.

The vineyard

The Mount Edelstone vineyard, planted in 1912 by Ronald Angas in Eden Valley, takes its name from the German “Edelstein,” meaning gemstone, in reference to the small yellow opals once discovered in the area. Situated at around 400 meters above sea level on the eastern slopes of the Mount Lofty Ranges, this terroir benefits from a cool climate that encourages slow ripening and naturally high acidity. The 16 hectares of ungrafted, century-old vines are rooted in ancient 500-million-year-old soils, made up of red-brown silty clay to clay, with pockets of sandy silt over gravel and bedrock. Dry-farmed according to biodynamic principles, these old vines produce naturally low yields and grapes of exceptional concentration.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage stands out as one of the most remarkable of the decade, comparable to the great vintages of 1986, 2002, 2005 and 2015. After good winter rains replenished water reserves, the season began cool, with budbreak two weeks late. An extreme hail event in late October struck the young shoots, reducing the crop potential. Australia’s coolest summer in nineteen years, with only three days above 32°C, was followed by a warm autumn offering ideal ripening conditions. These mild temperatures allowed the grapes to develop naturally high acidity and exceptional concentration of flavor and color.

Winemaking and aging

The Mount Edelstone 2021 harvest took place by hand between March 31 and April 12. The grapes were destemmed, then lightly crushed before fermenting in historic open-top concrete vats. Gentle pressing was carried out during fermentation. Aging continued in oak barrels, including 22% new oak, for around 12 months. The vineyard benefits from wheat-straw mulching under the vines to retain moisture and enrich organic matter, as well as the application of biodynamic preparations and sprays.

Grape variety

100% Shiraz