[SOLD-OUT] Henschke Hill of Grace 2006

 

"The Shiraz components for Hill of Grace are vinified and kept separate for around 21 months until a pre-bottling selection is done. Usually, but not always, most of the twenty hogsheads go into the final blend. It's mainly all French oak now, but Stephen Henschke comments that he likes the little bit of aromatic interest that a cheeky bit of well coopered, well seasoned (it's done at Henschke) American oak imparts into the final blend. Of the 2006 vintage he says - "Picture book season, mild summer and spring. Dead ringer to 2005 except for some Autumn rainfall. Picked on the 26th March."

So what's it like then, this most expensive of all new release Australian wines? There's plenty of tasteful malty nutty oak, a little minty fragrance, spice and pepper with rich black and blue fruits. It's full bodied with a slippery seductive texture - the tannins super fine but fully supportive of the rich fruit. Savoury oak shows a firm hand at this early stage, but is in harmony. I noted a slight saltiness and warmth too, but not as negatives. Combines intensity and abundant flavour without being heavy or leaden. Superb long peppery finish. It's surprisingly approachable now, and with a good decant will make a satisfying drink for the rich and/or hasty, although obviously its best days are ahead of it." - Wine Front

 

"OK, it's not exactly a giveaway price but it deserves its place amoung the great wines of the world. Lovely spicy concentration of fruit with lifted aromas that are floral and pure. Palate is intense and very powerful with a silky smooth tannin and oak-infused texture. It has real power and concentration. It's lively, robust and showing great intensity. Wonderful balance and poise and a wine that will cellar for many years. The spicy characters and quite profound." - Ray Jordan The West Australian

 

"Australia's most celebrated single vineyard shiraz, this is a wow wine, majestic in its overall picture of black fruits, dark spices and deep waves of flavour and texture." - Tony Love

 

"Hill of Grace is 100% Shiraz from pre-phylloxera material brought from Europe by the early German settlers in the mid 1800s and grown in the Eden Valley. Some of the original vines are over 145 years old. Matured in new French (65%) and American (35%) hogsheads for 21 months, the deep garnet purple colored 2006 Hill of Grace presents an incredibly perfumed, ethereal nose of warm crushed blackberries, rose petals, kirsch, violets, cinnamon stick, mace, fennel seed, eucalypt and damp earth. Very crisp and rich in the mouth with medium-firm velvety tannins and tons of fleshy fruit, it displays opulent layers of warm berries and spice in the finish. This is staggeringly beautiful wine and delectably approachble even at this very early stage. I anticipate this great vintage will cellar to 2025+." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate

 

  Biodynamic  

Country:

Australia

Region:

SA- Eden Valley

Variety:

Wine Red - Shiraz

Size:

750mL