Henschke Keyneton Euphonium 2021

Keyneton Euphonium is a beautiful composition of shiraz from up to 50-year-old vines growing in the Eden and Barossa Valleys, blended with cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot from selected vineyards in both regions. The Barossa hills village of Keyneton, pioneered by pastoralist Joseph Keynes in 1842, was a musical and cultural focus for the community, and home to the Henschke Family Brass Band and Henschke Winery.

The band was founded in 1888 by second-generation Paul Gotthard Henschke and later led by third-generation Paul Alfred Henschke, featuring wonderful wind instruments such as a B flat euphonium, cornet and E flat clarinet. The B flat euphonium was produced by the famous Zimmermann factory in Leipzig, Germany, in the late 19th century. The instruments were imported by musical entrepreneur, Carl Engel of Adelaide in the late 1800s and have been lovingly restored to remain in the care of the Henschke family.

2021 was an excellent vintage. Average winter rainfall was followed by minor frost events in late September and spring rains in early October. Budburst was even with good fruitfulness, although heat bursts in late November affected fruit set. Strong winds in early December caused some damage to the canopies but the fruit remained disease free. January was mild and dry with a short heat wave late January at veraison, followed by rainfall in early February. The lead up to vintage and the conditions during ripening remained cool, cloudy and dry, with the fruit showing balanced acidity, excellent colour and flavour development.

2021 vintage saw a blend of 63% Shiraz, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Merlot. Harvested between the 1st of March & 22nd of April. Exceptional vintage. Matured in 62% French and 38% American oak, consisting of 2% new French oak puncheons and 98% seasoned French and American oak hogsheads, for 18 months prior to blending and bottling.

Cellaring Potential: 25+ years