HENSCHKE THE WHEELWRIGHT SHIRAZ 2022

The Wheelwright pays tribute to the founding father of the Henschke winery and vineyards, winemaker Johann Christian Henschke. He was among the first generation of the early Barossa German pioneers of South Australia, and established the family winery in 1868. Johann Christian arrived as a skilled stonemason and wheelwright and planted his first vineyards in the high country of the picturesque Eden Valley. This wine is produced from Old-Vine shiraz planted in 1968, a century later, by fourth-generation Cyril Henschke.

Winery notes (2022 Vintage)
"Deep crimson with violet hues. Fragrant aromas of raspberry, black cherry and boysenberry, with hints of nutmeg, aniseed, Dutch cocoa, sage, wild fennel and charcuterie. A poised palate reveals mulberry, blueberry and black plum woven with white and pink peppercorn and delicate floral notes, balanced by fine acidity, resolving into a long, silky tannin finish. 

97//100 Ray Jordan, James Halliday's Wine Companion (2022 Vintage)
"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."

5 Stars & 96/100 Huon Hooke, The Real Review, March 2025 (2021 Vintage)
"Deep and bright red with a purple meniscus; intense raspberry and crushed fresh herbs on the nose, predominantly sage and rosemary, thyme also, the palate soft and fleshy with a firm sheen of fine-grained tannins that persist throughout the length of the palate. Intense spices too—this has the personality of Eden Valley roaring through with its inimitable character. Lovely fragrance; powerful structure; firm tannin finish. This will reward long ageing."

96/100 Erin Larkin, RobertParker.com, Wine Advocate, March 2026 (2022 Vintage)
"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."

93+/100 Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, March 2026 (2022 Vintage)
"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."