Details
In the Bottle
| Vintage | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Grape Variety | 100% pinot noir grapes grown on Stephen and Prue Henschke's Lenswood vineyard in the Adelaide Hills. |
| Technical Details | Harvest Date: 25 February-12 March Alcohol: 13.5% | pH: 3.51 | Acidity: 6.1 g/L | |
| Maturation | Matured on lees in 23% new and 77% used French barriques for 9 months prior to blending and bottling. |
| Background | In 1981, fifth-generation winemaker Stephen Henschke and his wife Prue purchased a property in the Adelaide Hills with the intention of planting varieties well suited to the cooler climate of the region. The vineyard was originally part of a beautiful valley of apple orchards and natural forest that were destroyed by the Ash Wednesday bushfires in 1983. Sitting at an altitude of 550m with an annual average rainfall of 1100mm, the Lenswood vineyard slopes offer not only beautiful views towards the older vine country, but also provide enough sunshine to fully ripen the grapes, together with cooler temperatures to retain natural acidity. The pinot noir vineyard has been named after Charles Giles, an early pioneer whose descendants had managed the property as an apple orchard since 1864. |
| Cellaring Potential | Excellent vintage, 10+ years. |
Vintage 2010 16 November 2011, Kerry Skinner, Illawarra Mercury
From the Adelaide Hills and a wine of finesse from one of Australia's top-shelf producers. Polished and poised with almost 20 different components making up the final blend. Aromatic, tight and bright, cherry, strawberry and plum fruit flavours, spice and savoury characters, silken tannins. Drink with roast duck.
Vintage 2008. 4 December 2009, Rick Allen, Manly Daily, Sydney
Good pinot needs to tick a few boxes. A nice aromatic bouquet: this has beautifully fragrant violets and cherry - check. A silkiness in the mouth: it's finegrained and delicate, yet with intense richness of fruit - check. Complexity of flavours: there are layers of dark cherry and red berry flavours, some mint and mixed herbs - check. From Lenswood, in the Adelaide Hills, it's a ripper.
Vintage 2006. 15 October 2008 Issue, Harey Steiman, Wine Spectator
This red is light and lively, with pretty raspberry and strawberry fruit at the fore…long, vivid finish…90 points.
Vintage 2004. August 2007, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion
Spotlessly clean; fragrant, spicy, red and black fruit aromas; an elegant, cherry-accented palate; has poise and length. Rating 94/100.