Henschke Johann’s Garden 2023

Could easily be called the versatile one such is the flowing, easy going nature of Johann’s Garden, blessed with textural qualities which immediately sets it apart as a particularly good food matching wine. However, don’t be deceived, Johann’s Garden has a history of strong cellaring potential, and 2023 is considered a “great” Barossa vintage according to the maker. Light crimson in colour, it carries a host of red fruits and intense spiciness before it, which is in keeping with its blend of Grenache (60%) and Mataro (40%).  Black cherry, plum, cranberry, a dash of raspberry sauce, supported by rosemary, black pepper and aniseed. Dressed in supple tannins, it sings now but, as already noted, its versatility also extends to further ageing.

Jeni Port

Wine critic at Winepilot

Jeni Port is one of Australia’s top wine communicators. Based in Melbourne, Jeni created the first wine column in the (then) Sun News-Pictorial before moving over to The Age and becoming that paper’s longest-serving wine writer. Over the years she has written for most Australian wine magazines and these days calls WinePilot home. She is also a Tasting Panel member on the Halliday Wine Companion. She was named Wine Communicator of the Year and Legend of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in 2014 and in 2018 Legend of the Vine. She is a founding board member of Australian Women In Wine and is the co-deputy chair of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards and China’s Wine List of the Year Awards.

Wine writer and critic