Details
The 2008 vintage in Eden Valley was preceded by an average rainfall and a mild and unusually frost-free spring with regular rainfall periods. Fine flowering weather meant good set despite the expectation that the previous drought year of 2007 would affect yields. The vines also showed surprisingly vigorous growth. A dry and hotter than average early summer caused smaller berry and bunch size. Although temperatures climbed to over 40C around New Year and in mid-February, the weather from mid-January through February was the coolest for 30 years, allowing amazing development of fruit colour, flavor and maturity.
In early March South Australia suffered an unprecedented record heat wave of 15 days over 35C. The unexpected searing heat seemed never-ending and resulted in stressed vines, significant leaf drop, escalated sugar levels in the fruit and significant shrivel. A cool change followed, which brought relief; however it was too late for fruit still hanging, which had literally cooked on the vine. Selective early morning handpicking, leaving shriveled fruit on the vines, gave the best quality, resulting in some amazing intensely coloured and flavoured reds, in particular shiraz. It was an easy season to practice organic viticulture and a season that demanded biodynamics to keep the vines healthy.
In the Bottle
| Vintage | 2008 |
|---|---|
| Grape Variety | 100% 90-year-old-vine shiraz grown in the Eden Valley wine region. |
| Technical Details | Harvest Date: 14-27 March Alcohol: 14.5% | pH: 3.51 | Acidity: 6.71 g/L | |
| Maturation | Matured in 76% French (66% new, 34% seasoned) and 24% new American hogsheads for 21 months prior to blending and bottling. |
| Background | The Mount Edelstone vineyard, situated in the Eden Valley, was planted in 1912 by Ronald Angas, a descendant of George Fife Angas, who founded South Australia. Unusual for its time, the vineyard was planted solely to shiraz in ancient 55 million-year-old soils which are deep red-brown clay-loam to clay, resulting in low yields from nearly 96-year-old dry-grown ungrafted vines. First bottled as a single-vineyard wine in 1952, it became recognised as one of Australia’s greatest shiraz wines. |
| Cellaring Potential | Great vintage, 15+ years. |
Vintage 2007. May 1-2 2010, James Halliday, The Weekend Australian Magazine
Vivid colour; it has a rich and deep bouquet with licorice, spice, tar and black fruit aromas; the palate extremely rich and complex, layered fruit with plush tannins, yet is supple; very long finish to an outstanding ’07 wine. Rating: 95 points.
Vintage 2006. 11-12 July 2009, James Halliday, The Weekend Australian
Mount Edelstone may not set hearts racing in the same way as Hill of Grace, but it was the first label for Henschke with the '52 vintage, Hill of Grace following in '58, and is a great wine in its own right. Deep purple-crimson; the bouquet is intense and full of spicy black fruits accurately foretelling the power and purity of the palate; this is an outstanding Mount Edelstone. Indeed, I cannot remember any better than this; it has the focus and structure to guarantee a 30-year future. Alas, it will long outlive me. Screwcap. 14% alc. Rating: 96. Drink: to 2036. Price: $99.
Vintage 2005. 15 October 2008 Issue, Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator
Polished…gorgeous red cherry, pomegranate and mint flavors…92 points.
Vintage 2005. 30 April 2008, Tony Love, Adelaide Advertiser
A cracker of a single-vineyard shiraz, fragrant beyond expectation, spicy with faint lifts of vanilla and sweet red to purple fruits, then sage and bay and sweet cedary hints in tune behind. In the mouth, there's plenty of all that but magnified, fleshy fruit dominant, exciting interplays, come-again drinkability through its sensible tannin structures. Seductive.
Vintage 2004. February 2008, Joshua Greene, Wine & Spirit
Bottled under screwcap, this wine is starved for oxygen when first opened, but it doesn't take long for the fruit character to lengthen out, its flavours ranging from persimmon to something blacker and rooty. The supple texture is the center of the wine's beauty for now, the flavours needing time to develop. For the cellar. Rating 92/100.
Vintage 2003. August 2007, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion
Good colour; has structure and focus with red and blackberry fruit; good spice and length, exemplary oak and tannins. A raucous return to top form. Rating 95/100.
Vintage 2002. August 2007, James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion
Clean blackberry, plum and a touch of prune on the bouquet; the palate utterly belies the alcohol, with a cascade of black fruits and spices; very good oak and tannin management. Rating 96/100.
Vintage 1996. 15 October 2008 Issue, Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator
…a wine of poise and intrigue for the way it balances its rich fruit and earthy, meaty character on a supple texture.