The Barossa Valley has taken off its training wheels with some newcomers.
Moving away from the big boys, the fat and heavy shiraz everyone pretended they could drink a bottle of, the newcomers are elegant, balanced and just a little confident.
They haven’t reinvented the wheel; they have just made it roll better.
The pick of the new bunch is Henschke’s Five Shillings, a character-packed red that’s rooted in Barossa’s past, but crafted for today’s palate. It’s yummy and perfect for this month’s temperature.
Named after Paul Gotthard Henschke, who took over the family vineyard in 1873 with a handshake and five shillings in his pocket, this wine is a nod to the “dry reds” his family was making 150 years ago.
It’s a blend of Eden Valley shiraz (76%) and Barossa Mataro (24%) that hits the sweet spot between power and finesse.
Dark plum and blackberry take centre stage, sprinkled with a little spice and a smoky, savoury edge from the Mataro.
It’s bold, stylish but not too loud. Think leather jacket, not leather pants. There’s structure, there’s charm and a little confidence coming through.
I’d find the bottom of the bottle with slow-roasted lamb, potato garlic rösti, or whatever you’ve got on hand that’s a rich and wintery classic.
With Henschke less is more, cellaring is fun but not necessary, it’s perfect drinking now. Cheers!
