Henschke Tappa Pass Shiraz 2020

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.

The 2020 vintage will be remembered for excellent quality wines from the Barossa Valley, albeit reduced yields caused by poor conditions at flowering and the extremely dry winter, spring and summer of 2019/2020. The 2019 winter and spring resulted in the driest start to the growing season ever, in line with 1939 and 1961. November was a troubling month with some frosts and wet and windy conditions during flowering. Significant heatwaves from mid-December to the end of January reduced shoot growth and berry size, however at the end of the month around 40mm of rain fell, alleviating the stress just before veraison, followed by a cool ripening period in February with just three days over 30°C. Vintage was early, beginning in late February and finishing by late March. The fruit ripened in near perfect conditions, resulting in optimal and excellent wine quality (colour, aromatics, flavours and tannin maturity). Bunches were in loose, open and pristine bunches, while the yield remained quite low, at about 50% of average. The 2020 red wines are intense in colour, exceptionally fragrant, spicy and well-structured.

Deep crimson with bright purple hues with intense and spicy aromas of briary blackberry, blueberry, plum, violets and crushed herbs, with hints of sage, black pepper and leather. The palate is rich and lush, with concentrated raspberry, plum and blackcurrant fruit, moving through to more complex flavours of dark chocolate, ground coffee and a hint of anise, balanced by fresh and lifted acidity, and an elegant finish of long, fine-grained, velvety tannins.

This is a supple and very drinkable edition with rich blackberry fruit aromas and flavours framed in trademark oak spice. But fruit purity is the highlight here, the palate is all so neatly resolved. Silky finish. Real purity and polish here. Nick Stock, Gourmet Traveller, 94 Points

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal -  Shiraz
Country - Australia
Region - Eden Valley, South Australia
Vintage - 2020
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 14.5%