Henschke Keyneton Euphonium 2020

Opening Euphonium soon? Consider a decant or some swishes in the glass first. Or, open the bottle, leave it for a day – like I did – and then come back and see how it has opened up. The alternative, of course, is to take it straight to the cellar. This Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc blend may be three years old, but it is as tight as a drum. This translates into potential-plus! The fine, firm tannin structure is definitely key to what will be considerable longevity. Resting easy in the background is a savoury undertow that revolves around red fruits, dried herbs (with sage a highlight note), spice, liquorice and a lingering herbal tomato leafiness. Well composed but hiding its considerable light at this moment. The best is yet to come.

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