Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz 2014

Product Information:

From a challenging 2014 season, yielding excellent quality but at very low yields. Inviting aromas of blue and black berry fruits, dark plum and exotic five spice exude from the glass, while more subtle and classic nuances of black pepper, sage and chicory allure and entice. The palate is rich, lush and elegantly structured with layers of texture and beautifully balanced flavours of blue and black fruits, dried herbs and charcuterie, Fine velvety tannins and a savoury mid palate incredible length and depth.

100% grown on a small shiraz vineyard planted some time in the mid 1800s. Matured mostly in French oak though 14% spends time in American oak. An icon of Australian wine if ever there was one. 

Maker:
The prestigious Australian winery Henschke has remained a family-owned establishment for over 153 years and six generations. Situated in Keyneton, South Australia, within the esteemed Eden Valley wine region, Henschke proudly stands as a distinguished member of Australia's First Families of Wine. Since its inception in 1862, when Johann Christian Henschke planted a modest vineyard in Keyneton, the Henschke family has continuously crafted exceptional wines, forging a legacy of excellence with vineyards in the Eden Valley, Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills, including acclaimed single-vineyards, Hill of Grace and Mount Edelstone.

The fifth-generation winemaker Stephen Carl Henschke and his viticulturist wife Prue took over the operation of the winery in 1979 and they are recognised around the world for their exceptional quality wines, innovative spirit, focus on restoring native vegetation, organic and biodynamic practices in the vineyard. Johann Stephen Henschke, the eldest of Stephen and Prue’s three children has become the sixth generation member of the Henschke family since 1983. With the background of higher education in wine making, viticulture and oenology, Johann is now based at the family winery as winemaker and viticulturist while playing an important role of transferring his skill set and knowledge from the fifth to sixth generation. As the next generation prepares to navigate the well-documented challenges that lie ahead, Johann recognizes the indispensability of innovation and meticulous strategic planning. However, amidst these considerations, he firmly believes in upholding the time-honoured winemaking techniques that have been cherished by the Henschke family for generations. By ensuring that the legacy of Henschke is nurtured with the same prudence and care as it has always been, Johann and his peers can pass on a heritage that will endure and command the same esteemed reputation that it enjoys today.

Vineyard:

Henschke try to follow the biodynamic calendar but the Hill of Grace vineyard more than any other seems to be moon-cycle driven, always opting to pick on the full moon of easter.

The 2014 moon cycles put Easter quite late in the season, so the expectation of a life harvest prevailed until South Australia experienced its record number of heat days over 40C in January, culminating in the worst bushfire in Eden Valley in living memory up until that year. This was followed by the wettest February in 44 years. Fortunately Eden Valley was still in veraison, which allowed the quenching rain to rebalance the fruit, particularly in the older dry-grown vineyards. The change to mild autumnal weather in late February after the rains allowed for a focus on early vintage white varieties, while the red varieties continued to fully ripen. March became colder and wetter, which seemed to change to a winter pattern after the equinox, resulting in one of the longest and latest vintages. In summary, a challenging season with excellent quality but very low yields.

100% Shiraz from pre-phylloxera material brought from Europe by the early settlers in the mid 1800s. The Grandfather vines were planted in Parrot Hill around 1860 by Nicolaus Stanitzki on a plot of rich, red-brown alluvial soil with silty loam. A couple of years prior to that, August Henschke had bought land at Parrot Hill in the Eden Valley, donating a corner of his acreage for the Gnadenberg (Hill of Grace) Lutheran Church to be built on. The vineyard took its name from the church. In 1891, the Henschkes bought the vineyard. 1958 was the first vintage of the single-vineyard Hill of Grace wine. A hot vintage. Dry-grown vines at 400 m. Hand picked from 21 February to 7 March. 

Nose - Crushed Elderberries, Peppercorns, Tar
Amazing aromas of wet-aged beef, spices, crushed elderberries, peppercorns and bay leaf. 

Palate - Intense, Truffle, Plums
The palate flavour mesmerisingly intense and lush, with tremendous depth and velvet texture. A wonderful balancing act, very full-bodied and powerful, the texture astonishingly fruit-sweet and plush.

Finish - Honey-Soy, Leather, Velvety
Exotic truffle-like characters, those honey-and-soy notes, that tang to the leather.

Amazing aromas of wet-aged beef, spices, crushed elderberries, peppercorns and bay leaf. Evolves in the glass all the time. Dynamic wine. Full body and polished, fully integrated tannin to the fruit. Finishes very fresh and vivid. Gorgeous to drink now but will age wonderfully. - James Suckling, 99 Points.

Deep red colour with a little purple tint. The bouquet is typical Hill of Grace in its fragrant spice, licorice and raspberry aromas with a trace of tar, some black pepper, the palate flavour mesmerisingly intense and lush, with tremendous depth and velvet texture. A wonderful balancing act, very full-bodied and powerful, the texture astonishingly fruit-sweet and plush - just a sublime wine. Almost endless length. It's even plusher than Edelstone, if that is possible. (50/50 screwcap, for domestic market, and Vino-Lok, for export). - Huon Hooke, The Real Review, 98 Points.

The 63rd vintage of Hill of Grace Shiraz. The longest line of a single vintage wine in Australia. The nose is all heightened blackcurrant, the palate is a bed of roses and plums, the complexities come from leatherwood honey and malt. At five years of age it’s a powerful wine, settled with tannin, blessed with robust rounds of both secondary and primary character. Everything is in its right and proper place, and yet it goes about its business in its own way. There’s muscle here but it’s defined by its flavour profile; those exotic truffle-like characters, those honey-and-soy notes, that tang to the leather. You could easily drink this now, it’s in a lovely place, but no doubt no one’s in a hurry, least of all the wine. - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, 96 Points.

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Shiraz
Country - Australia
Region - Eden Valley, South Australia
Vintage - 2014
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 14.5%