1996 Henschke Keyneton Estate Shiraz Cabernet Merlot 750ml

Minor Label Damage/Stains

Overview

A mature 93-point Henschke red from an excellent Barossa vintage, originally released as Keyneton Estate Shiraz Cabernet Merlot and now associated with the Keyneton Euphonium lineage. The 1996 combines dry-grown Shiraz with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, offering developed dark fruit, fragrant oak, savoury complexity and gentle tannins.

History

The wine was named in tribute to Joseph Keynes, an English pioneer who settled at Keyneton in 1842 and later gave his name to the village. Keyneton became an important musical and cultural centre for early Barossa settlers and was home to the Henschke Family Brass Band.

Vintage

Average winter rainfall followed two drought years, while a mild spring provided excellent flowering conditions. A dry and cool summer allowed yields of up to 20% above average. The cooler conditions supported a long, slow ripening period and strong flavour development in the grapes.

Winemaking

The blend comprises 65% Shiraz, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot grown in the Eden Valley and Barossa Valley. The wine was matured for 15 months in new and seasoned American and French oak hogsheads.

Tasting Profile

Producer Tasting Note
Deep crimson colour, a sweet fragrant bouquet dominated by raspberries, blackberries and plums under pinned by layers of perfumed silky vanilla oak and coconut with hints of cedar and violets, quite complex on the palate, soft rich and fleshy, just slightly sappy, showing good acidity and a long palate finishing with gentle dusty fine tannins.

Critic Reviews

93 Points — Jeremy Oliver
Tasted January 2003
Drinking Window: 2004–2008

Specifications

• Vintage: 1996
• Producer: Henschke
• Original Release Name: Keyneton Estate Shiraz Cabernet Merlot
• Blend: 65% Shiraz, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot
• Regions: Eden Valley and Barossa Valley
• Country: Australia
• Vineyard Style: Low-yielding, ungrafted and dry-grown vines
• Maturation: 15 months in American and French oak hogsheads
• Oak: New and seasoned oak
• Alcohol: 14–14.8%
• Cellaring Note: Excellent vintage; producer’s stated optimum year was 2006

Awards, Ratings & Reviews

GOLD — Melbourne Class 22 · 1996

About This Wine

Named as a tribute to an early English pioneer Joseph Keynes, who settled at Keyneton in 1842 and after whom the village was named.

The estate blend exhibits a complexity of fruit flavours and superb balance from the combination of these low yielding, ungrafted dry grown varieties.

Matured in new and seasoned American and French oak hogsheads for 15 months, it will continue to develop well in the bottle.

The adverse weather conditions, drought, frosts and a dry spring and summer reduced the crops of all varieties. Despite reduced yields of up to 30% - 40%, the 1995 vintage will be of high quality for both red and white wines.

Producer Notes

Bright crimson in colour, sweet perfumed spicy plums and licorice with blackcurrant and chocolate Cabernet flavours and soft silky briary sappy hints of Merlot complexed by nuances of coconut, vanilla and balsam oak. A very pure fruits orientated wine showing a rich intense palate finishing with long firm tannins and balanced acidity. A more austere wine than the 1994 vintage reflecting the drought and low yeilds of 1995, and one which will reward time in the cellar.

Specifications

• Vintage: 1995
• Grape Variety: 71% Shiraz, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 1% Malbec
• Region: Eden Valley and Barossa Valley
• Maturation: New and seasoned American and French oak hogsheads for 15 months
• Vineyard / Geo info: Low yielding, ungrafted dry grown varieties