1996 Henschke Hill Of Grace Shiraz

THE STORY

The atmospheric and beautiful Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz is Australia’s most famous single vineyard wine.

The vineyard was established at Parrot Hill in the Eden Valley (around 1860) by Nicolaus Stanitzki and has since been handed down through the generations to the Henschke family.

Four generations worked the vineyard for a century before Cyril Henschke produced the first Hill of Grace Shiraz in 1958. This coincided with the centenary of the Gnadenberg Lutheran Church, the beautiful stone building that Hill of Grace vineyard takes its name from. This wine was shared as a village wine for more than 100 years.

Although first produced in 1958, it took nearly 30 years before the Hill of Grace Shiraz became truly famous, an effort recognised to be connected to the hard work and dedication of Stephen and Prue Henschke.

THE WINEMAKING

Biodynamic principles are included in vineyard management. The four-hectare ungrafted single vineyard is dry-grown on its own roots, planted on a range of soils from deep silt to sandy and silty loams over red clay interspersed with gravels.

The Hill of Grace vineyard is picked just before the full moon of Easter. Traditional submerged cap fermentation in wax-lined, open top concrete fermenters is followed by maturation in new (58%) and seasoned French (85%) and American oak hogsheads for 18 months.

THE WINE

An intensely perfumed, concentrated and velvet-textured wine, Hill of Grace is the quintessential Eden Valley shiraz. Pristine blackberry pastille and sage aromas, mocha nuances, fine, lacy tannins, voluminous freshness and underlying savoury oak are hallmarks of the style. Age will develop roasted chestnut and espresso nuances and velvety textures.

Huon Hooke - Real Review

Exceptional vintage. Medium brick-red with a tawny rim, and the wine looks a little more developed than expected. Peppermint aroma. Bright, fresh and youthful on the nose and palate. A big, bold, bright fruited minty style with firm persistent tannins and youthful structure. Very long, and seems set for a very long life. Serious wine.