Henschke Lenswood Croft Chardonnay 2015 750ml

Grape Variety: 100% riesling grown in Eden Valley

Harvest Date: 23 February-3 March | Alcohol: 11.5% | pH: 2.97 | Acidity: 7.05g/L

Cellaring Potential: Exceptional vintage, 20+ years (from vintage).

Maturation: Fermented in tank and bottled post-vintage to preserve the delicate aromatic fruit characters.

Background: Cyril Henschke developed the Henschke reputation for premium riesling wines as early as the 1950s from the vineyard areas of Eden Valley, Keyneton and Springton in the Eden Valley wine region. This region provides ideal ripening conditions for the riesling grape and has a unique track record of exceptional ageing potential for the variety. The Eden Valley riesling vineyard is planted on sandy loam over gravel and bedrock with patches of clay. The wine is named after ancestor Julius Henschke, a highly acclaimed artist and sculptor.

Vintage Description: A traditionally wet winter, mild spring and excellent fruit set provided a great start to the 2015 vintage after four vintages with below average yields. Spring was dry and led into a very mild, dry summer with no disease, resulting in fruit with higher natural acidity, and incredible flavour and colour concentration. A dry, warm and windy start to January, however, resulted in one of the worst bushfires in the Adelaide Hills in living memory, though well away from our Lenswood vineyards. By the end of the first week, relief came with 60-75mm of rain and a record-breaking coolest January in 11 years. With the onset of veraison at the end of January, the rain was perfectly timed for the old dry-grown vineyards, and the mild weather that followed from February through to April provided for a fairytale vintage. Most of our white varieties and some Eden Valley shiraz were in before Easter, moving on to the rest of our Eden Valley and Adelaide Hills red varieties soon after, and eventually winding down at the end of April as the rain and cooler temperatures set in. The 2015 vintage has provided stunning signature riesling and elegant shiraz from Eden Valley, that show extraordinary flavour, purity of fruit and acid balance with the potential for excellent ageing.

Wine Description: Pale straw with lime hues. Intense, lifted aromas of lime leaf and citrus zest supported by lively jasmine floral notes, bath salts and crushed herbs. The palate is tight and focused, displaying dominating lime flavours and ripe citrus, beautiful purity, and mineral notes leading to a long, intense, crisp finish with steely acidity.