Description
Henschke, “Keyneton Euphonium”, Shiraz Blend
The “Keyneton Euphonium” is a beautiful composition of Shiraz from up to 50-year-old vines growing in the Eden and Barossa Valleys, blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc from both growing regions. The Barossa hills village of Keyneton, pioneered by pastoralist Joseph Keynes in 1842, was a musical and cultural focus for the early settlers, and home to the Henschke Family Brass Band and Henschke winery. The wine is a tribute to the family history of music in the early settlement years in which the unique B flat Euphonium, a large brass wind instrument directly imported from Germany was a key piece to the ensemble. This instrument and others have been lovingly restored and remain in the care of the Henschke family.
The 2016 is a blend of 66% Shiraz, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc coming from estate holdings in both Eden and Barossa Valley. The wine is matured in 20% new and 80% seasoned French oak hogsheads for 18 months. Aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, and cassis jump out of the glass with a back note of sage and bay leaf. Extremely generous on the palate with a procession of more blackberry fruit, dried herbs, cedar, cracked black pepper, and espresso notes. Powerful with great purity and balance. The tannins have had time to soften with further bottle age to create harmony between the primary fruit and earth nuances. Easily enjoyable after a 30 to 60-minute decant but the Keyneton Euphorium has a cellaring potential of another five to ten years.
