Description
The Henschke family has been making wine in the Barossa’s Eden Valley wine region since 1868. Today, fifth-generation winemaker Stephen Henschke and his viticulturist wife Prue are recognised around the world for their exceptional quality wines, innovative spirit, focus on restoring native vegetation and organic and biodynamic practices in the vineyard. The Henschke winemaking tradition now spans over 150 years and six generations, with vineyards in the Eden Valley, Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills, including acclaimed single-vineyards, Hill of Grace and Mount Edelstone. Henschke was the 2021 Wine Enthusiast New World Winery of the Year, 2021 Halliday Wine Companion Winery of the Year, and has been recognised for outstanding efforts in sustainable wine production with the Robert Parker Wine Advocate Green Emblem and Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification in 2023.
About this wine from the winemakers: “Fourth-generation winemaker, Cyril developed the Henschke reputation for premium Eden Valley riesling from 1961. This region provides ideal ripening conditions for riesling and a unique track record of exceptional ageing potential. The Henschke Eden Valley riesling vineyard is planted on sandy loam over gravel and bedrock with patches of clay. Since 1992, this wine has been named as a tribute to ancestor Albert Julius Henschke (1888-1955), a highly acclaimed artist and sculptor. Julius was recognised for his ornate headstones and angel sculptures at the Gnadenberg Cemetery, as well as his most celebrated work, the inspiring National War Memorial on North Terrace in Adelaide.
“The 2025 growing season began under continued dry conditions, with below-average winter rainfall failing to replenish soil moisture. Unseasonably warm late-winter weather prompted an early budburst, followed by a devastating frost event in mid-September that caused widespread damage across much of south-eastern Australia. Remarkably, vine recovery exceeded expectations, with fruitful secondary buds forming bunches on new shoots. Supplementary irrigation was required to maintain vine health throughout winter, spring, and summer. Although yields were expected to be low, they surpassed conservative estimates. Like spring, summer also arrived early, with a warming trend from mid-November laying the foundation for one of the hottest and driest seasons in living memory. Fortunately, early February saw only short bursts of heat. Eden Valley riesling fared well, with harvest occurring in the cooler part of February.
“Fermented in tank and bottled post-vintage to preserve the delicate aromatic fruit characters.
“Pale lemon with green hues. Fragrant aromas of orange blossom, frangipani and lime zest are lifted by hints of elderflower, white rose and chamomile. A rich and elegant palate of finger lime, white peach, pink grapefruit, lemon and musk is driven by pure minerality and crisp acidity, carrying through to a long and focused finish. Will cellar 20+ years from vintage.”
97 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion “Pale straw in the glass with a flash of green and beautifully defined aromas of freshly squeezed lime juice, green apple , Bickfords lime cordial and grapefruit. You’ll find hints of crushed quartz, Christmas lily, orange blossom, almond paste, ozone, lemongrass and kaffir lime. Sleek, focussed and wonderfully pure, there is an ache of precision and minerality that marks its passage over the palate, all tension and velocity and cadence, jeez it is a lovely wine, finishing dry and slatey with just a glimpse of umami as it trails.”
95 points, Jeni Port, Wine Pilot “Brings some cracking acidity to concentrated lemon-lime citrus Riesling fruit and the result is quite startling and perky. There is an impressive, driving acidity – brisk, busy and racy – which filters through every moment the wine is on the tongue. In keeping with its Eden Valley origin, the apple blossom, honeysuckle florals are inviting and in harmony with green apple, grapefruit pith, lemons and limes, bath salts, saline and flinty, wet rock minerals. The palate is crisp and moves at a clip before finishing on a long, attractive floral note. And, as always, Julius Riesling is a keeper, a wine that can only – and most definitely, does – improve with time.”
RRP $60 Our Special Price $47.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine
