Details
The 2009 vintage was preceded by a cold, drought winter. It was the coldest August since 1951. Spring had a few heat spikes up into the mid to high 30s and some frost damage in low-lying areas. It was the driest September for 30 years and the driest October on record. Staggered flowering resulted from cool weather which reduced the fruit set. Some varieties were also pruned back hard to just a few spurs to allow them to survive with no water. Rain arrived mid-December, making it the wettest month of the whole year. The cool southerlies continued through into the new year, reminiscent of 2005. December didn’t record any days over 32C. January brought a record six days over 40C, not seen since 1908, causing vine stress, exacerbated by drought conditions and empty dams, followed by another week of hot weather culminating in a 46C day on Black Saturday on February 7. Fortunately subsequent weather was mild and dry, with perfect ripening weather from March 1 moving into autumn mode. A strong change brought a general rain across the state with 10-20mm in early March, which helped with ripening and flavour development. The Indian summer in late March brought ripening forward with all the whites finished and in the winery by early April. The resultant red quality was excellent.
In the Bottle
| Vintage | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Grape Variety | 62% shiraz, 23% cabernet sauvignon, 8% merlot and 7% cabernet franc grown in the Barossa (Eden Valley and Barossa Valley). |
| Technical Details | Harvest Date: 5 March-22 April Alcohol: 14.5% | pH: 3.55 | Acidity: 6.3 g/L | |
| Maturation | Matured in 15% new and 85% seasoned French and American hogsheads for 18 months prior to blending and bottling. |
| Background | The Barossa hills village of Keyneton, pioneered by pastoralist Joseph Keynes in 1842, was a musical and cultural focus for early settlers, such as the Henschke Family Brass Band and the Henschke Winery. This brass band survived generations and featured wonderful wind instruments such as a B flat euphonium, cornet and E flat clarinet, which have been restored and are still in the family. The historic Keyneton district has been the home of up to seven wineries during its period of settlement. The B flat euphonium, a large brass wind instrument, was made by the famous Zimmermann factory in Leipzig, Germany, in the late 19th century. A musical entrepreneur, Carl Engel of Adelaide was responsible for importing musical instruments into South Australia at this time. It has a deep amber coloured lacquer and is adorned with decorative metalwork on the body and slides not seen on more recent instruments. Again, it has a warmer and more subtle tonal quality than its modern counterparts. |
| Cellaring Potential | Great vintage, 20+ years (from vintage) |
Vintage 2004. February 2007, Jeremy Oliver
An intense, elegant and measured red that takes time to open in the glass. Its minty, violet-like perfume of redcurrant, cassis, plums and fresh cedar/vanilla oak overlies a suggestion of dark chocolate and a slightly herbal hint of white pepper. Long, smooth and tightly knit, its vibrant palate of spicy berry and plum-like flavour overlies a dusty, fine-grained spine. It finishes savoury and slightly mineral with a persistent core of fruit. 94 pts.
Vintage 2002. August 2007, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion
An elegant mix of a full range of red and black fruits; medium-bodied, with delicious silky mouthfeel. Rating 95/100.