Henschke Julius Riesling 2012

Henschke Julius Riesling 2012
11.5% alcohol, screwcap, Eden Valley.

I was served this 14-year-old riesling at an event recently and it proved, once again, how magnificently Henschke’s Julius Riesling can age. At the time of its release both Gary Walsh and I rated this wine highly on The Winefront, and when I tasted it again recently the first thing that stood out was its complexity, the second was its freshness, and the third – mostly compellingly – was the stony, pebbly, slatey aspect of its back palate. At release I said this: “Smells citrussy and pure and gives up some easy flavour, but (it) becomes slatey and deadly serious as you swallow.” Those words still hold true, the promise of the wine in its youth now franked. Age has added an extra layer of toasty complexity, and some yellow to the colour, but it remains spritely, even vigorous. It’s in the zone for drinking now but truth is that it will drink well for another 15 plus years. 95 points.