2022 Henschke The Wheelwright Shiraz

Named in tribute to founding father Johann Christian Henschke, a skilled stonemason and wheelwright who established the winery in 1868, this Eden Valley Shiraz pays homage to over 150 years of family winemaking heritage. The vineyard was planted a century later in 1968 by fourth-generation winemaker Cyril Henschke in a cool, high-country area of the Eden Valley at nearly 500 metres altitude, situated on sandy loam topsoil over gravel and deep prismatic subsoil clays. Now cultivated with organic and biodynamic practices, these old vines yield fruit of remarkable purity, structure, and intensity. First released as a single-vineyard bottling from the 2015 vintage to commemorate the estate’s 150th anniversary, The Wheelwright is renowned for its fragrant spice, fine-grained tannins, vibrant red-and-black fruit clarity, and exceptional cellaring potential.

Other Reviews...
This distinctive wine has been an annual favourite of mine from the time it was first released. The vineyard was planted in the Mount Lofty Ranges by Cyril Henschke in 1968 to mark the 100th anniversary of Henschke. This is such a lovely wine, brimming with bright red fruits supported by a fine, bright and lively acidity, fine chalky tannins and a neatly implemented oak. Has a beautifully seductive mouthfeel with tremendous depth and concentration of Shiraz. This is the most southern of the three single vineyards and comes in after Edelstone and Hill of Grace. It’s quite different from those wines. Has beautiful peppery violet fragrances with stacks of red fruit. Matured in 10% new and 90% seasoned French oak hogsheads for 20 months before blending and bottling. The Wheelwright, first released to commemorate 150 years of Henschke family winemaking, pays tribute to founder, winemaker Johann Christian Henschke a skilled stonemason and wheelwright. He was among the first generation of the early German Silesian community and established the family winery in 1868. Drink 2026-2056.
97 points
Ray Jordan - Wine Pilot

Shiraz sourced from the Wheelwright vineyard in the Eden Valley; aged in French oak, 10% new, for 20 months. Expressive and fruit pure with aromas of blackberry, blueberry and black cherry fruits with hints of brown spice, flowering herbs, sage, a flash of red cherry, violets, cedar, graphite and crushed rock. There's a lovely core of pure plum and blue fruits over graphite, layers of spice and citrus blossom high tones. Graceful and sleek with melt-in-the-mouth tannins and a bright, sustained finish. Drink 2026-2050.
96 points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion

“100% shiraz grown on The Wheelwright Vineyard on the Henschke Eden Valley property, managed with organic and biodynamic practices. Matured in 10% new and 90% seasoned French oak hogsheads for 20 months prior to blending and bottling.”
Ultra plush palate, saturated plums, some cream, some mint, some peppered smoke and then cedar. This wine is dominated by vivid red berry flavours: redcurrant, plum, red licorice. Inlaid there are pepper- and peppercorn-like notes but it’s all about those extravagant red berried flavours. This wine stands out in the Henschke range for exactly that reason: it’s red satin velvet fruit. There was a lot of love in the room for this wine but I was (slightly) less enthusiastic because it seemed comparatively simple – which, admittedly, time in the cellar will likely take care of. Drink 2027 - 2037.
93+ points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

The 2022 The Wheelwright Single Vineyard Shiraz is highly perfumed with purple flowers and lifted spice. This is loaded with pomegranate, raspberry, red licorice, pink peppercorn (in that attractive citrussy way that pink peppercorns can bring) and green olive tapenade. This is structural and yet juicy, savory (tannins) but sweet (fruit) and incredibly persistent and lingering. This offers immense pleasure now, but it will, like all the Henschke wines, evolve positively in the cellar for decades to come. The 2022 vintage brings such delicacy and freshness to this wine. I love it. Drink 2026-2042.
96 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

From a 54-year-old vineyard, the 2022 Shiraz The Wheelright has a delicious approachability, with a fragrant bouquet of mulberry, musky plums, crushed fennel seeds and spice. The palate is bright and understated wih a sinewy structure. Exotic incense/spice bazaar aromatics build through the generous finish. Drink 2029-2038.
93 points
Angus Hughson - Vinous

Aromas of plum, dark cherry, peppercorn, grilled meats, pomegranate, thyme and crushed stone. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with a seamlessly integrated mouthfeel, fine-grained tannins and bright acidity, all wrapped around a lovely texture that is both generous and restrained. Made from vines planted in 1968. Delightful. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
96 points
JamesSuckling.com