Henschke Johann’s Garden 2018

Here we have Henschke’s premier grenache blend – in this case also including mataro and shiraz. Australian grenache is now getting a head of steam and flying off the shelves like never before with Henschke having a long history with this grape variety including some great wines, such as the Johann’s Garden from 2017.

This is a slightly riper and fleshier example than the 2017 release thanks to the significantly warmer vintage which has given fantastic approachability and drinkability from day one. It’s a bold wine showing delicious purity of fruit with dark cherry and spice plus a slight meaty funk thanks to the mataro in the blend. There is great youthful vitality and you get the feeling this wine will give more with time in the bottle. The fruit is fleshy and ripe on the palate in a full-bodied style with quite supple well integrated tannins driving a long and strong finish. It drinks well now but worth putting a could of bottles in the cellar to see it at its best in five years time.

Angus Hughson

Founder at Winepilot

Angus is an award-winning wine writer and the Founder and Publisher of Winepilot, the Australian Editor for leading international publication VINOUS with Antonio Galloni based in New York City and the Co-Publisher of The Australian Ark with over 15 years of publishing, writing and judging experience.

Critic and publisher