Henschke : Keyneton Euphonium 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Keyneton Euphonium 2021 from Henschke

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a deep crimson hue with garnet highlights.

Nose

The nose unveils seductive aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry and blueberry, wrapped in herbal notes of sage and bay leaf. Subtle nuances of black pepper, vanilla and cedar complete the bouquet, alongside touches of violet and anise. With aeration, notes of licorice, cold black tea and dried meat add further complexity.

Palate

On the palate, the wine offers immediate generosity with flavors of red and black fruit, dried herbs and black pepper. The texture is creamy, and the palate shows great purity and remarkable balance. The velvety, well-shaped, chalky tannins bring length and complexity without ever dominating. A fine line of acidity runs through the whole, lending freshness and energy. The finish is persistent, supported by fine, ripe tannins, with a blood orange note that adds brightness.

Food and wine pairings

The Keyneton Euphonium 2021 is an ideal match for a rack of roast lamb served with eggplant, olives and preserved lemon. More broadly, this wine pairs beautifully with grilled or roasted red meats, game, charcuterie, and rich umami-driven dishes with Mediterranean or Middle Eastern accents.

Serving and cellaring

It is recommended to serve the Keyneton Euphonium 2021 at a temperature of around 17°C. The wine can be enjoyed now with decanting to let it breathe, or cellared until around 2051 under optimal conditions. The ideal drinking window is between around 2027 and 2041.

An elegant, complex Australian red from the Barossa Valley by Henschke

The estate

Founded in 1868, Henschke is one of Australia’s most prestigious wine estates, located in the Barossa Valley region of Southern Australia. Now led by fifth-generation Stephen Henschke and his wife Prue, chief viticulturist, the estate spans several vineyards in Eden Valley, Barossa Valley and the Adelaide Hills. A pioneer of single-vineyard wines in Australia as early as the 1950s, Henschke is internationally renowned for its iconic Hill of Grace and Mount Edelstone cuvées. The family has been practicing organic and biodynamic viticulture for several decades and has received numerous accolades for its environmental commitment and the exceptional quality of its wines.

The vineyard

The Keyneton Euphonium 2021 comes from vines located in Eden Valley and the Barossa Valley. The shiraz is sourced primarily from the family vineyard in Eden Valley, planted in 1966, where roughly fifty-year-old vines are grown predominantly dry-farmed. Situated at an altitude of around 400 meters, these parcels benefit from a cool climate, with lower average temperatures and significant day–night temperature swings. The soils are made up of sandy loams over gravel and bedrock, with areas of clay and sandy loams over clay. The vineyard is managed according to organic and biodynamic farming principles, using wheat-straw mulch, natural composts and biodynamic preparations.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage was the coolest recorded at Henschke since 2002. Winter brought good rainfall, replenishing soil water reserves. The start of the season was slow and cool, with budbreak occurring two weeks later than average. An extreme hail event on October 28 devastated the young growth and significantly reduced the crop potential. Late flowering, at the end of November and beginning of December, avoided cold, windy conditions, allowing good fruit set despite the reduced yields. The cool conditions favored slow, even ripening of the grapes.

Winemaking and aging

The Keyneton Euphonium 2021 grapes were hand-harvested between March 1 and April 22. The grapes were destemmed and lightly crushed before being placed in the historic open-top concrete fermenters. Fermentation lasted around seven to ten days, and just before reaching dryness, the musts were gently pressed into barrels. Primary fermentation was completed in French (80%) and American (20%) oak barrels, with around 11% new barrels and 89% barrels used for one wine or more. The wine was aged for 18 months before blending and bottling, followed by a further two years of bottle aging prior to release.

Grape varieties

Shiraz (63%), cabernet sauvignon (29%), cabernet franc (5%), merlot (3%)