| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | Australia > South Australia > Eden Valley |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
The 2019 Keyneton Euphonium leads with dried rose petals and pomegranate molasses, sumac, bone broth and salted licorice. In the mouth, the wine has a salty, soy/Lion's Mane character, alongside the cassis and bramble. The wine is lighter and finer than I would expect from this season, and it has a silky flow in the mouth. It has an Italianate character to the wine: it is savory and spicy, with very fine acidity and some floral high notes here.
Dark, inky and opaque in the glass. Really juicy, dark fruited aromas of plum conserve, blackcurrant pastilles, sweet spice and mocha, there's a lift of violets in there as well. Full flavoured, ripe and opulent, there's a richness of dark fruit flavours here, plum, mulberry, blackberry and a touch of choc mint. Firm, textured tannins and lively acidity temper the plush fruit and provide mouth-feel and cut. Smart gear.
Transparent, shaded garnet. Very mellow, well-integrated blend. Very luxuriously textured. Well-judged blend that's already approachable. Blackcurrants, blackberries and sagebrush. Lots of drive and when you taste this, you do wonder where they are going to go next, upwards the price scale. What's wrong with this? Many congratulations to the Henschke family and their growers. Very long. Went beautifully with roast beef.
While Australia is moving to the 2020 vintage imminently, the 2019 Euphonium is being released in the UK now, and this neatly lines up with the single vineyard releases. Thank goodness there is slightly more stock of this cuvée in 2019 because this old-fashioned ‘dry red’ blend is a complete and utter charmer in 2019. Harmonious, pretty, and packed with freshness and brightness, this is a smooth wine that is at its peak right now. I am sure it will hold for a good few years, but it is the only one of these 2019s you can confidently drink now without feeling guilty! Stephen Henschke puts this vintage’s success down to Eden Valley’s later ripening and its natural elegance and higher acid. And, of course, this all plays into Keynton’s hands. This is a seamless wine, and as a lifelong fan of the Shiraz/Cab blend, this wine plays straight into my sweet spot! Considering its price, this is an unmissable 2019 Henschke release, and if you have yet to indulge in these delicious wines, this wine is the place to start!
