Henschke, 2005 Mount Edelstone Shiraz.

Grape Variety: 100% 90-year-old-vine shiraz grown in the Eden Valley wine region.

Background: In 1912 Ronald Angas planted the sandy loam slopes of Mount Edelstone with shiraz. Located high in the Eden Valley region this vineyard came to be known as Mount Edelstone meaning gemstone. The 90-year-old ungrafted dry-grown vines from this historic single vineyard are low yielding, producing a depth of colour, concentration of flavour, length and maturity of tannins unique to old-vine shiraz. Mount Edelstone has achieved a formidable reputation since its first vintage in 1952.

Vintage Description:Vintage 2005 was early, warm, quick, fantastic quality with good yields – and exhausting.

Above average winter rains led into a beautiful spring, with some early November frosts but good flowering weather in late November and early December. Summer was wet and wild, with an amazing roller-coaster of weekly thunderstorms that helped maintain good subsoil moisture. Rains in January were followed by a dry February, and the dry weather continued right through the autumn. Warmer than usual autumnal weather caused an early, compact harvest of above average yields. The late Indian summer lasted into May, well after all the fruit was harvested, at maturity figures, flavour and colour not seen before the 2002 vintage.

The quality of the 2005 vintage is sure to be ranked as one of the best on record, after 2002, with all varieties showing strongly. Once again the signature varieties for Eden Valley, ie, riesling and shiraz, performed brilliantly.

Wine Description: Deep crimson in colour with a purple hue. Powerful, ripe aromas of blackberry and plum with complexing hints of star anise, ferns, eucalypt and dark chocolate. The palate is an intense and concentrated blend of sweet, juicy plum pudding fruit and structured ripe tannin. With mouthfilling power, seamless texture and lingering finish the wine displays the hallmark characters of the Mount Edelstone vineyard in one of its greatest years.

97 Points, Wine Advocate # 181 Feb 2009.