2000 Henschke Keyneton Estate Winery: Henschke Vintage: 2000 Region: Eden & Barossa Valley Bottle Size: 750ml Variety: Shiraz Cabernet Merlot Price: $50.00 (out of stock)

Background

Named as a tribute to an early English pastoralist Joseph Keynes, who settled at Keyneton in 1842 and after whom the village was named. The estate blend exhibits complex fruit flavours and superb balance from the combination of lowyielding, ungrafted dry-grown varieties. Matured in new and seasoned American and French oak hogsheads for 20 months.

Vintage Description

The 2000 vintage was small and early. Another drought winter, frost at the end of October, poor flower development in spring and the unseasonal cool temperatures in late October/early November led to low yields. This was compounded by searing summer temperatures and a large amount of rain at the end of February - 100mm of rain over 24 hours courtesy of a tropical cyclone up north - which caused splitting of fruit, mould infections and subsequent shrivel and raisining. Overall, the whites are delicate with good flavour intensity while the reds are showing great potential for ageing.

Wine Description

Deep crimson in colour. Sweet spicy blackberry, raspberry and plum aromas with hints of anise, lanolin, tar and subtle vanilla oak. Sweet fruit with a fleshy, soft textured palate, nicely balanced with soft silky tannins, good length with just a hint of 2000 vintage sappiness.

Cellaring Potential

Very good vintage, optimum year 2010.

Serving Ideas

Lacquered squab with spring onion pancakes.

Technical Data

Harvest date: 23 March - 13 April

Alcohol: 13.8  pH 3.35  Acid: 6.5

Grape Variety

70% shiraz, 20% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot grapes grown in Eden Valley and the Barossa Valley.