During the nineteenth century establishment of the farming and the wine industries of South Eastern South Australia, only horse drawn coaches provided the transit of mail and passengers. The coach service proprietor in this part of the state was a certain Mr Henry John Hill. His operation drove directly through a property, owned more recently by three generations of the Longbottom family of Padthaway. Routes were known as Drives, thus this family's wine business is today known as Henry's Drive. The Longbottom families have been farming in Padthaway since the 1940?s, a diverse operation from sheep and cattle to growing crops and onions. In 1992 a decision was made to further diversify and plant a few vines. Now with almost 300 hectares the vineyard is established consisting mainly of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon and other varieties such as Chardonnay, Merlot, Verdelho and Sauvignon Blanc.

"To quote importer Dan Phillips ,"This winery is all about pure, exuberant fruit buttressed with extraordinary winemaking." Sparky and Sarah Marquis are behind these offerings, which are aged primarily in American oak for a relatively short period of 13 months." Robert Parker

www.henrysdrive.com

Cabernet Sauvignon
2002 $32.99 available
"A sexy, hedonistic, dark plum / purple hued effort displaying a rich, sumptuous bouquet of cedar wood, licorice, new saddle leather, dried herbs and creme de cassis. This is Australia's version of a hedonistic vintage of Lynch Bages that includes a Rhone herbs de provence note. Seductive, fleshy and succulent, it should be enjoyed over the next 5-7 years." 92 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #155
"Highly nuanced nose combines redcurrant, mocha, wood smoke, cedar and dried herbs and spices. Densely packed and juicy, with a subtle sweetness and good balancing acidity. Youthfully tight, varietally accurate flavors of currant and herbs. A distinctly cool, rather pretty wine, finishing with firm tannins." Steve Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 7/8-04

Shiraz
2002 sold out

Shiraz Reserve
2001 sold out
"Some might feel the 2001 Shiraz Reserve is too much of a good thing, but it is neither port-like, pruny, nor flat. It is simply crammed with concentrated blackberry and cassis fruit in an obvious but spectacularly textured style. It possesses considerable nuances. Loaded and thick, with low acidity and huge amounts of tannin, all concealed by lavish quantities of fruit and extract, this stunning wine can be drunk now, but should age effortlessly for 7-10 years, possibly longer." 96 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #148
2002 sold out

A Grateful Palate Selection