2023 Julius

Eden Valley

 

Pale gold with lime green hues. Intensely perfumed aromas of citrus blossom, freesia and makrut lime leaf, with notes of jasmine and delicate hints of fresh almond and thyme. The palate is rich and concentrated with lemon zest, finger lime and lime sherbet leading into a textural mid-palate. Crisp and refined acidity provides laser focus for a long, powerful finish.


$52.00
$52.00
  Pale gold with lime green hues. Intensely perfumed aromas of citrus blossom, freesia and makrut lime leaf, with not...

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BACKGROUND

Fourth-generation winemaker, Cyril developed the Henschke reputation for premium Eden Valley riesling from 1961. This region provides ideal ripening conditions for riesling and a unique track record of exceptional ageing potential. The Henschke Eden Valley riesling vineyard is planted on sandy loam over gravel and bedrock with patches of clay. Since 1992, this wine has been named as a tribute to ancestor Albert Julius Henschke (1888-1955), a highly acclaimed artist and sculptor. Julius was recognised for his ornate headstones and angel sculptures at Gnadenberg Cemetery, as well as his most famous work, the inspiring National War Memorial on North Terrace in Adelaide.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Varieties: 100% Riesling
Harvest Date: 17 - 23 March
Alcohol: 12%
Vintage Rating: Exceptional vintage
Maturation: Fermented in tank and bottled post-vintage to preserve the delicate aromatic fruit characters.
Cellaring Potential: 25+ years (from vintage)

VINTAGE

While the winter of 2022 saw average rainfall, the latter part of the year brought cooler and above average wet weather. This led to poor flower set and encouraged the spread of downy mildew. A hail flurry on 23 January caused some damage to the green berries, which became sites for botrytis infections later during ripening. The cool lead up to vintage resulted in a slow ripening period, allowing for great flavour development and acid retention. Rainfall during harvest encouraged the growth of botrytis, but careful hand selection during picking delivered good quality fruit. Despite the challenges, the 2023 vintage will be remembered for excellent quality wines with riesling, semillon and shiraz the standout varieties.

TASTING NOTES

Fourth-generation winemaker, Cyril developed the Henschke reputation for premium Eden Valley riesling from 1961. This region provides ideal ripening conditions for riesling and a unique track record of exceptional ageing potential. The Henschke Eden Valley riesling vineyard is planted on sandy loam over gravel and bedrock with patches of clay. Since 1992, this wine has been named as a tribute to ancestor Albert Julius Henschke (1888-1955), a highly acclaimed artist and sculptor. Julius was recognised for his ornate headstones and angel sculptures at Gnadenberg Cemetery, as well as his most famous work, the inspiring National War Memorial on North Terrace in Adelaide.

Varieties: 100% Riesling
Harvest Date: 17 - 23 March
Alcohol: 12%
Vintage Rating: Exceptional vintage
Maturation: Fermented in tank and bottled post-vintage to preserve the delicate aromatic fruit characters.
Cellaring Potential: 25+ years (from vintage)

While the winter of 2022 saw average rainfall, the latter part of the year brought cooler and above average wet weather. This led to poor flower set and encouraged the spread of downy mildew. A hail flurry on 23 January caused some damage to the green berries, which became sites for botrytis infections later during ripening. The cool lead up to vintage resulted in a slow ripening period, allowing for great flavour development and acid retention. Rainfall during harvest encouraged the growth of botrytis, but careful hand selection during picking delivered good quality fruit. Despite the challenges, the 2023 vintage will be remembered for excellent quality wines with riesling, semillon and shiraz the standout varieties.

97 points
"Very pale lemon with hints of lime at the core. Lime zest, cracked quartz and talcum aromatics. Tight and focused on entry with both lime zest fruit and quartz minerality vying for dominance. Acidity drives it to amazing lengths. Purity and focus riding the wave, carrying a level of tension that sets it apart. An outstanding vintage of this wine."

STUART KNOX, THE REAL REVIEW

96 points
"Concentrated spring flower and wild floral scents envelop the senses with bright grapefruit, lemon, lime and an exotic sprinkle of Thai basil and green papaya. Bright, firm acidity nearly steals the show on the palate as it brings together a solid purity of Eden Valley fruit expression in bergamot, ginger and herbals against intense lime and citrus. Grabs your tastebuds and takes them for a superb Riesling ride, but the...

JENI PORT, WINEPILOT.COM

96 points
"Pale colour. Intense grapefruit, tonic water, lemon curd aromas with hint verbena notes. Well concentrated grapefruit, lemon curd, lime cordial flavours, fine loose knit chalky textures, very attractive mid plate volume and fresh cutting acidity. All the elements in excellent balance. Keep for a while as this has great cellaring potential."

ANDREW CAILLARD MW, THE VINTAGE JOURNAL