Henschke Henry’s Seven 2021
- 95
- $38
- Drink by: 2022-2032
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This Barossa blend is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the release of this vintage. The name hails from Henry Evans Henschke planting the first vineyard, yes, of seven acres, at Keyneton in 1853. He may not have had an easy life. As soon as Henry fell off the perch, his widow Sarah had no one to rein in her “temperance convictions”. The winery was shut and vines unceremoniously uprooted. Thankfully, temperance does not run in the Henschke family. This wine is a blend of 77% Shiraz, 11% Grenache, 10% Mataro and 2% Viognier. The Viognier was co-fermented with the Shiraz, while the Grenache and the Mataro were both fermented separately. The components spent 10 months in a mix of 95% seasoned and 5% new French hogsheads, before blending and bottling. The Viognier might only be a dollop but at this early stage, it is certainly making its presence felt. The colour is a shining, vibrant purple (winemakers will tell you that, despite the contrary nature to it, adding a touch of white to the red enhances the colour). Beautifully aromatic, it oozes dark berry notes and charcuterie. Bergamot, graphite and a hint of orange rind. This is seamless, offers the silkiest of tannins and exemplary length. An exquisitely beautiful wine with a good ten years ahead of it.
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.
