Henry’s Drive Vignerons was founded in 1992 by Kim Longbottom and her late husband Mark in Padthaway, South Australia. The winemaking team is headed by Renae Hirsch with the support of Kim Jackson as consulting winemaker. Renae brings over a decade of experience, having held winemaking positions in France, Germany, the United States and Australia. 500 acres are planted with Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdelho on soils that range from limestone over sandy ridges to rich, red loam.

Rating

Robert Parker 89 points (Dec 2009) A perennial Best Buy in these pages, the 2008 Pillar Box Red does not disappoint. A blend of 66% Shiraz, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Merlot, it is purple-colored with an enticing nose of cherry blossom, cinnamon, blueberry, and licorice. Ripe and rich for its humble price, it has plenty of savory fruit, good balance, and a seamless, fruit-filled finish.

Wine maker notes

The first Pillar Box was erected in Australia after thhe introduction of postage stamps in the 1850’s. Several of these elaborately designed receivers still exist as stoic reminders of a time when beauty could be found in the most mundane – even in the posting of one’s letters. Awash with fruit and flavours the Pillar Box Red combines Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot into a wine which, in its first vintage, Robert Parker dubbed “one of the great wine bargains of the world”. Beautiful but definitely not mundane. Pillar Box Red has a dark colour and a vibrant purple hue, with aromas of fresh blueberry fruit, liquorice, dried mint and cinnamon oak undertones. The palate is dense and juicy, with flavours of fresh blackcurrant and herry combined with aniseed, dried thyme and mocha oak characters. The wine is rich and full bodied, well balanced and seamless with soft, persistent tannins