2003 Geoff Merrill Henley Shiraz

A legend, that's the only right word for the striking winemaker Geoff Merrill. The vineyards can be found not far from Adelaide in McLaren Vale where a ridge of hills and a cool sea breeze provide some cooling. Geoff has special ideas of his own: he doesn't make his wines for the short term, but for the long term. He also does not shy away from wood aging, as long as the wines can bear it. Also very remarkable is that Geoff lets his wines drink before they appear on the market. For example, the reserve wines are only available 6 years after the harvest and the estate wines 3 years after the harvest. This is partly possible due to the presence of fine acids that give the wine a rich fruit structure and enhance the complexity. The Reserve Shiraz has been awarded the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy, Australia's highest honor for a Shiraz.

“Henley is a strict cask selection of our finest vintage McLaren Vale Shiraz and is named in honor of my grandfather, who passed away at the ripe old age of 102. This wine is the best of the best from our McLaren Vale Shiraz and only a maximum of 10 casks of the vintage are reserved for Henley.” – Geoff Merrill

The Henley is Geoff Merrill's top model and is a wine that is unique in its kind. The wine is released not in order of vintage but when it is felt that the wine has evolved style that makes the Henley so unique. So this wine is well over 20 years old but still has some primary fruit expression and is deep garnet-brick in color and has an earthy, gamey, iodine-scented nose with a core of black cherries and mulberries plus anise, allspice, dried rose petals and espresso. Luscious and full on the palate, it has a nice balance/high acidity with a medium hardness of very fine tannins and a long finish with lingering vanilla, coffee and savory chocolate flavours.

FACT: In the Tab: Appendix you will find the official fact sheet of this fine wine. We will automatically send it to you when you order this wine. The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you come to pick up the wine you will also receive a nice discount. We are almost next to the national road with plenty of parking space. Click here for address.