Henschke Keyneton Euphonium 2018
Henschke's Keyneton Euphonium is a beautiful Barossa red wine composition of Shiraz from up to 50-year-old vines growing in the Eden and Barossa Valleys, blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from selected vineyards in both regions, some of which were planted by Cyril Henschke at his Eden Valley property in the 1960s. The Barossa hills village of Keyneton, pioneered by pastoralist Joseph Keynes in 1842, was a musical and cultural focus for the early settlers, and was home to the Henschke Family Brass Band, founded in 1888. It featured wind instruments such as a B flat euphonium, a large brass wind instrument, which has been lovingly restored and remains in the Henschke family. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes were hand harvested in the cool of the morning. Each parcel was picked separately and remained so throughout the vinification process. Once in the winery, the grapes were de-stemmed and lightly crushed, either into small, concrete, open-top fermenters, or small, stainless steel open-top fermenters. After 7-10 days and just prior to reaching dryness, the fermentations were gently pressed to barrel with the primary fermentation finishing in 85% French and 15% American oak hogshead barrels. The wine matured for 18 months before assemblage and bottling, with the wine remaining in bottle for two years before its release. Deep crimson in colour the Keyneton Euphonium displays intense aromas of ripe, spicy redcurrant, plum, rhubarb and blackberry with lifted hints of cassis, violets, sage, bay leaf, black pepper, baking spices and cedar. The palate has excellent depth and structure with plush, ripe dark fruits and a balanced acid line driving the mid-palate and finishing with savoury spice and dried herbs in unison with the elegant, fine grained tannins.
