October 1, 2016 - Super young wine even with 11 years of age (couldn't tell that it was that old). Found it very enjoyable and approachable. A bit juicy as Aussie wines can be.
October 21, 2013 - An incredibly beguiling nose disappoints on the palate - for my taste, anyway. I have a strong dislike of viognier in red wine - far too bitter and sour, in my opinion. This is quite a good example of the style, but the overwhelming acidity throws the whole thing out of balance. Still - it's very hard to get past the nose. Gorgeous! As for being too old - it annoys me when I hear complaints that the fruit has receded. That's what happens with older wine! It changes and grows more complex, and the primary flavours give way to secondary and (if you're lucky) tertiary ones. This has quite a few more years left in it before it starts to decline.
Additional note: Actually, by day 2 this wasn't half bad. The acidity had died down and the viognier had mellowed. Personally I'd give this a couple more years development if I had another bottle. 89 points day 2.
August 27, 2013 - Funky port wine nose, plum and caramel, cleary some oxidation - also on the palate. Fruit is fading, slightly sweet taste, overt alcohol, lots of spices and caramel. Not my preferred style of Rhone blend. Getting old - time to finish. - 87 points
May 23, 2013 - Dark fruit. Smoothish but a little smokey. Nice nose. Little sweet but still a little dry. A bit jammy. Yummy finish.
February 9, 2013 - Might be passed it's prime, beem in the cellar for about 4 years, the fruit is starting to fade and the alchohol is still quite prevalent, tasty though and very enjoyable - Dark, full bodied with a nose of plum, blueberry, cherry, spice, pepper, funk and vanilla, a touch of heat on the palate, sweet, smooth on the finish with very good length, very nice but drink up (89 Points).
December 4, 2011 - A good example of a style I am falling out of love with.
November 25, 2009 - My last bottle - ooh, could I find some more!!!!!
September 9, 2009 - Very dark crimson in the glass. Black pepper on the nose with ripe blackberries, figs and black liquorice. Lots of heat. Finish is strongly spiced and very dry, of medium length with a twist of bitterness as the tannins kicks in mid-palate. Good balance overall; the rich, dark fruit acting as a much needed counterweight to the Shiraz-heavy spice.
June 6, 2009 - Not bad at all, syrah dominates the palate with a pepper, dark fruit and slightly drying finish. Quite well integrated, more fruit on the nose than in the palate. To me a slight alcohol burn on the finish, but all in all fairly nice, Henschke continues to be consistently good.
May 1, 2009 - The syrah is taking over from the grenache here. It showcases blackberry, pepper, and black currant notes, where most of my previous tastings seemed mostly to reveal the red fruit. This is really pretty, juicy in the mouth, with earthy tobacco on the finish. This last bottle of this is almost as good as my first bottle, and better than any in between.