Henschke Henry’s Seven 2019, Eden Valley, Barossa Valley, Australia

2019 vintage – 74% Shiraz, 16% Grenache, 8% Mataro, 2% Viognier. Viognier co-fermented with shiraz; grenache and mataro fermented separately. Matured in 6% new and 94% seasoned French hogsheads for 10 months prior to blending and bottling. This wine is a tribute to Henry Evans who planted the first vineyard of seven acres at Keyneton in 1853. He quickly developed a reputation for producing the best wines in the southern colony. Following Henry’s death in 1868, his widow Sarah exercised her temperance convictions by closing the winery and uprooting all the winegrapes. This blend highlights the historical introduction of southern French and Spanish varieties to South Australia in those early pioneering days and reflects the history, religion and culture of the Barossa. This wine radiates Barossa personality and is chock-a-block full of mouth filling, generous and supple fruit for drinking right now. Barossa shiraz, grenache and mataro have been blended with a splash of viognier to give this wine instant appeal and good complexity. Open knit, bright and jubey Barossa blackberry and baked earthy fruits are lifted by nice touches of raspberry, sage and white pepper. It’s also fleshy and vibrant in the mouith – again layers of dark berry fruit with subtle oak are supported by soft tannins to give great drinkability.