1996 Henschke Keyneton Estate Shiraz Cabernet Merlot 750ml
✨ Free Shipping over $200 (Excl. NT)
Minor Label Damage/Stains
Overview
A mature 93-point Henschke red from an excellent Barossa vintage, originally released as Keyneton Estate Shiraz Cabernet Merlot and now associated with the Keyneton Euphonium lineage. The 1996 combines dry-grown Shiraz with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, offering developed dark fruit, fragrant oak, savoury complexity and gentle tannins.
History
The wine was named in tribute to Joseph Keynes, an English pioneer who settled at Keyneton in 1842 and later gave his name to the village. Keyneton became an important musical and cultural centre for early Barossa settlers and was home to the Henschke Family Brass Band.
Vintage
Average winter rainfall followed two drought years, while a mild spring provided excellent flowering conditions. A dry and cool summer allowed yields of up to 20% above average. The cooler conditions supported a long, slow ripening period and strong flavour development in the grapes.
Winemaking
The blend comprises 65% Shiraz, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot grown in the Eden Valley and Barossa Valley. The wine was matured for 15 months in new and seasoned American and French oak hogsheads.
Tasting Profile
Producer Tasting NoteDeep crimson colour, a sweet fragrant bouquet dominated by raspberries, blackberries and plums under pinned by layers of perfumed silky vanilla oak and coconut with hints of cedar and violets, quite complex on the palate, soft rich and fleshy, just slightly sappy, showing good acidity and a long palate finishing with gentle dusty fine tannins.
Critic Reviews
93 Points — Jeremy Oliver
Tasted January 2003
Drinking Window: 2004–2008
Specifications
- Vintage: 1996
- Producer: Henschke
- Original Release Name: Keyneton Estate Shiraz Cabernet Merlot
- Blend: 65% Shiraz, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot
- Regions: Eden Valley and Barossa Valley
- Country: Australia
- Vineyard Style: Low-yielding, ungrafted and dry-grown vines
- Maturation: 15 months in American and French oak hogsheads
- Oak: New and seasoned oak
- Alcohol: 14–14.8%
- Cellaring Note: Excellent vintage; producer’s stated optimum year was 2006
Awards, Ratings & Reviews
GOLD — Melbourne Class 22 · 1996
About This Wine
Named as a tribute to an early English pioneer Joseph Keynes, who settled at Keyneton in 1842 and after whom the village was named.
The estate blend exhibits a complexity of fruit flavours and superb balance from the combination of these low yielding, ungrafted dry grown varieties.
Matured in new and seasoned American and French oak hogsheads for 15 months, it will continue to develop well in the bottle.
The adverse weather conditions, drought, frosts and a dry spring and summer reduced the crops of all varieties. Despite reduced yields of up to 30% - 40%, the 1995 vintage will be of high quality for both red and white wines.
Producer Notes
Bright crimson in colour, sweet perfumed spicy plums and licorice with blackcurrant and chocolate Cabernet flavours and soft silky briary sappy hints of Merlot complexed by nuances of coconut, vanilla and balsam oak. A very pure fruits orientated wine showing a rich intense palate finishing with long firm tannins and balanced acidity. A more austere wine than the 1994 vintage reflecting the drought and low yeilds of 1995, and one which will reward time in the cellar.
Specifications
- Vintage: 1995
- Grape Variety: 71% Shiraz, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 1% Malbec
- Region: Eden Valley and Barossa Valley
- Maturation: New and seasoned American and French oak hogsheads for 15 months
- Vineyard / Geo info: Low yielding, ungrafted dry grown varieties
🚛We offer Free Shipping for orders over $200 to All Metro Regions (excl. NT).
🛻We offer Free Local Delivery for orders over $200 to nearby areas.
(Local Delivery option will appear at checkout if your address is within the eligible delivery range, basically 15-20km delivery radius)
It typically takes 1-3 business days to process orders before dispatch. Delivery usually takes 1-7 business days depending on your location. We’re doing our best to get your order to you as quickly as possible!
*Delivery times may vary depending on your location and the shipping method selected at checkout.
• Temperature-controlled freight is available in selected metro regions:
VIC (Melbourne CBD ±20km, Geelong, Mornington Peninsula), NSW (Sydney CBD ±20km, selected Northern & Southern suburbs), QLD / SA / WA (metro areas within approx. 10–20km; additional charges may apply).
For Pre-Order Items:
Orders containing pre-order items will be shipped once all items are ready, ensuring a single consolidated delivery. Customers can expect their orders to be dispatched promptly upon product availability. Our pre-order products are generally ready for dispatch within one week of order placement.
Tracking your order:
You will receive a confirmation email containing a tracking ID and a link to follow the journey of your package once we fulfill your order.
Please allow 1 to 3 working days for the tracking information to show.
Wrong address disclaimer:
It is the responsibility of the buyer to make sure that the shipping address entered is correct. We do our best to speed up processing and shipping time, so there is always a small window to correct an incorrect shipping address. Please contact us immediately at sales@craftrepublic.com.au or 0456 948 270 if you believe you have provided an incorrect shipping address.
Returns:
Please refer to our Refund Policy for further information on how to make a return.
Lost/Stolen Packages:
If your tracking information states that your package was delivered to your address and you have not received it, please report it to your respective shipping carrier at the information provided to you on our Tracking Page. If you have any further questions or need further assistance, please reach out to our customer support team at sales@craftrepublic.com.au.
Pre-order products are typically available for dispatch within one week of order placement.
Most pre-order items are ready to ship within a week of purchase. If your order contains a pre-order item, we’ll hold your order until everything is ready so you receive all your items together. Don’t worry — we’ll dispatch your order as soon as possible, and you’ll have your wines in hand shortly after!
Free Shipping over $200
T&Cs Apply
Order today,
Receive tomorrow
T&Cs Apply
Contact us for personalised, dedicated assistance
Premium wines stored in climate-controlled cellars