Hennings The Lone Vine Shiraz 2016

This exceptional vineyard is located in the Colbinabbin area at the northern end of the Heathcote region and lies on the famed red Cambrian soil strip. Hennings Vineyard was one of the first vineyards planted in the Heathcote region in the early 1860s. Wines were made until the 1920s when the vineyard was abandoned. It wasn't until 1998 when Daryl Rathjen decided to replant the vineyard on the same original site that production started again. The wine is made by David and Liam Anderson from Wild Duck Creek.

"The standard offering shiraz from Hennings is no slouch, but the reserve Lone Vine is in another league again. It has an extra degree of intensity and structure and another dimension to the luscious blackberry and plum fruit. The 2016 has colossal fruit weight and is Grange-like in stature but is also an exercise in harmony from start to finish; the palate smooth, velvety and long, the oak handling exemplary and the tannins perfectly balanced. Simply sensational, my red wine of the year. Vive la Heathcote!"  Nick Munday

The Lone Vine Shiraz is Hennings' flagship shiraz. Fruit is sourced from the best part of the vineyard and these 6 rows are cropped at very low levels - around 1 tonne to the acre. The fruit is hand-picked and the wine is matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (100% new) and bottled with minimal fining and filtration.

"Henning Rathjen planted the original vineyard in the late 1860's and one 'lone vine' remains on our property. This premium wine is a link to our historical past. It is minimally fined and filtered to maximise flavour and concentration. It displays the customary Hennings deep colour with intense blackberry jube, spice, anise and cedary oak characters. Fabulous palate weight, power, intensity, silky dry tannins with an incredibly long finish. Decant if drinking now or cellar up to 20 years."  Hennings

Expert reviews

"The standard offering shiraz from Hennings is no slouch, but the reserve Lone Vine is in another league again. It has an extra degree of intensity and structure and another dimension to the luscious blackberry and plum fruit. The 2016 has colossal fruit weight and is Grange-like in stature but is also an exercise in harmony from start to finish; the palate smooth, velvety and long, the oak handling exemplary and the tannins perfectly balanced. Simply sensational, my red wine of the year. Vive la Heathcote!"  Nick Munday, Canterbury Wines - 98+ points and Special Value Wine  ★ 

Awards

Special Value Wine – Canterbury Wines  ★ 

About the winery

Hennings Vineyard was one of the first vineyards planted in the Heathcote region in the early 1860s. It is part of a family owned farm that was established in 1858 by Henning Rathjen, an early German settler. The vineyard is located in the Colbinabbin area at the northern end of the Heathcote region, some 40km north of the Heathcote township. Wines were made until the 1920s when the vineyard was abandoned. It wasn't until 1998 when Daryl Rathjen decided to replant the vineyard on the same original site that production started again.

The 20 acre vineyard is planted predominantly to Shiraz clones pt23 and 1654 and lies on the ancient Cambrian soil for which Heathcote is famous. This soil is among the oldest in the world at over 500 million years old, and apart from being deep and fertile, it has excellent moisture retention which lessens the need for irrigation. The wine is made by David and Liam Anderson from Wild Duck Creek, who employ traditional winemaking techniques - minimal handling, whole berry basket pressing and fermentation with natural yeasts. The reds are matured in quality French oak and bottled with minimal fining and filtration.

Hennings produce two Heathcote Shirazes, a standard estate Shiraz and the flagship 'The Lone Vine' Shiraz. Both wines are truly great examples of Heathcote shiraz; full-bodied, voluptuous and powerful wines that display great intensity and balance.