Henschke George 5th 2021
- 94
- $40
- Drink by: 2022-2027
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The Henschkes might be Barossan royalty, but they are taking a small liberty pinching the name of the former King for this wine – not that it isn’t regal in itself. Georg Adam Heidenreich Henschke was apparently ordained as a pastor in Hanover in 1866, in the presence of George V and the royal family. Georg then took his family to Port Adelaide (a place very few associate with royalty of any kind) and then to Bethany. Sometime later, his descendants planted Grenache and those bush vines are now 80 years of age. This is the second release of this wine, following on from the 2017. 100% Grenache, the wine spent 10 months in older French oak hogsheads. A soft crimson hue. The aromas are an entrancing mix of raspberries and cranberries, red cherries and florals, lavender, with a hint of cinnamon. Fragrant, perfumed and elegant. The palate moves more to the savoury end of the spectrum. Excellent length and silky tannins. A very fine Grenache. There are those who would place the wines from Henschke into a category which would not be seen as great value (when one sees the price of Hill of Grace and others these days, hard to argue – which is not to suggest that they are not worth it), but at their less elevated levels, they have a number of wines which are cracking buys. This is certainly one of them. A wine to be enjoyed by Monarchists and Republicans alike.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
