Henschke "Hill Of Grace" Shiraz 2018
(Eden Valley / Barossa Valley, Australia) - [JS 99] [JH 99] [DM 99] [WA 98] [VM 97] [WS 97] [WE 96]

About the Winery:
Henschke is one of Australia’s leading winemakers and grapegrowers.  Henschke is recognized for its rich heritage, innovative spirit and commitment to handcrafting exceptional wines for 150 years. The Henschke family’s grapegrowing and winemaking tradition spans six generations, from outstanding sustainable vineyards in Eden Valley, Barossa Valley and the Adelaide Hills. 

Notes From the Winemaker:
Hill of Grace is surely one of the most evocative phrases in the world of wine. It is a translation from the German ‘Gnadenberg’, a region in Silesia, and the name given to the lovely Lutheran church that overlooks the vineyard. The 4ha single-vineyard shiraz planting is situated at the historic village of Parrot Hill 4km north-west of Henschke Cellars.

Grape Variety 100% shiraz from pre-phylloxera material brought from Europe by the early settlers in the mid-1800s and grown on the Hill of Grace vineyard in the Eden Valley wine region.

Technical Details:
Tasting Notes:
Deep ruby with ruby hues. Ethereal and exotic aromas of blackberry and blood plum with five-spice, star anise, clove, fennel seed, cinnamon and black pepper, and more subtle hints of bay leaf and crushed flowering herbs. The palate is plush, deep, complex and powerful, with a core of supple blackberry and blueberry fruit laden with spice and pepper, and beautifully balanced by fine acidity resolving into a long and elegant finish of rolling, velvety tannins.

Ratings & Reviews:

99 Points - James Suckling:
“A superb and harmonious Hill of Grace with wonderful complexity on the nose that keeps bringing you back to the glass. Minty blueberries, red berries and some blackberries. Heather and violets with beautifully integrated spices of peppercorn and five spice. Graphite, salt chocolate and cigar box, too. Intense, lush and concentrated. This is barely full-bodied but the concentration is simply effortless and the flavors grow on the palate. Super silky and svelte tannins glide through the even and cohesive palate. Persistent finish, lasting for more than two minutes. Let it breathe if you decide to open it now, but it will sleep well in your cellar, too.” (Mar 2023)

99 Points - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion:
“The 60th anniversary of what is widely considered Australia's finest single-vineyard wine. Sometimes you've got to pinch yourself and ponder what a lucky existence this wine hack stuff is, sitting here in the Henschke cellar door having just tasted 26 vintages of Hill of Grace spanning back to 1958. Grace by name, grace by nature, it is an elegant, beautiful wine, tannin–acid architecture on point, the fruit depth is just stunning, dotted with five-spice, sage, pepper, charcuterie, crushed quartz and the most lovely, kinetic tannin structure. Finishes with great sustain, harmony and grace. Voluminous and complex, with amazing fruit density and just a complete wine. A classic!”

99 Points – Decanter Magazine:
The 60th anniversary of Australia's most famous single-vineyard wine, whose oldest contributing patch – the 0.56ha Grandfathers – was planted an incredible 160 years ago. There can't be many wines whose inaugural vintage came from 100-year-old vines! As always, it's a powerful, muscular wine built for the long haul, showcasing silky but structured tannins, fresh acidity, and concentrated, complex yet graceful flavours of ripe blackberry and boysenberry, lighter red and blue fruits, earthy beetroot, peppery cured meat and an exotic, herbal incense note. Named for the Gnadenberg Lutheran church which stands opposite the vineyard, itself named for the region in Silesia from which Johann Christian Henschke emigrated in 1841.” – Tina Gellie (Mar 2023)

98 Points - Wine Advocate:
“The Hill of Grace vineyard, in Eden Valley, comprises 13 separate blocks, six of which feed into the Hill of Grace Shiraz. The oldest block (0.56 hectares), known as "Grandfathers," was planted around 1860. The other blocks were planted in 1910 (0.33 hectares), 1951 (1.08 hectares), 1952 (0.7 hectares), 1956 (0.88 hectares) and 1965 (0.57 hectares). The 2018 Hill of Grace Shiraz was matured in a combination of new (20%) and seasoned (80%) oak hogsheads (83% French, 17% American) for 18 months prior to blending and bottling. On the nose, the 2018 vintage assists this wine in speaking clearly of its regional location: raspberry and licorice, coal dust, black tea and tobacco leaf. There are inflections of black truffle and bone broth, which always seem to emerge, however the wine is brighter and more focused than I have seen. It offers a beautiful, svelte display of fruit and tannin, with all things in harmony in the mouth. This is very long, as we would expect from the pedigree of this wine and the vineyard. It is concentrated and intense, sinewy, elegant and powerful—a wine for the future generation.” – Erin Larkin (Apr 2023)

97 Points – Vinous Media:
The 2018 Shiraz Hill of Grace is stunning from the get-go, boasting ethereal aromas that immediately draw you in, including mixed spices, damson plum, new leather, five-spice and old earth notes with a gravelly edge. Oak sits comfortably in the background with remarkable all-around composure. The immaculate palate showcases robust flavors and muscular tannins packed tightly together. The wine slowly builds in the glass to reveal layers of roasted meat and spice with exceptional palate tension and vigor to finish. The 2018 is so complete and destined for greatness.” – Angus Hughson (Aug 2023)

97 Points - Wine Spectator:
“This remarkable wine is rich, dense and generous yet also restrained and wonderfully elegant, with silky tannins and flavors ranging from fresh, fleshy black cherry, wild blackberry and baked plum cobbler fruit to sage and rosemary. The long, epic finish shows strong, malty Assam black tea and whiffs of sandalwood and rose petal, plus a savory note of Kalamata olive that lingers. Shiraz. Drink now through 2040. 300 cases made, 40 cases imported.” – MW (Jun 2023)

96 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
“Released for this renowned, family-run winery's 150th anniversary, the latest Grace vintage is luscious with layers of aroma and flavor. Plump blueberry, plum and cherry preserves at the core are underpinned by dried mint, cedar, earthy spice, melted chocolate and vanilla bean. Henschke's signature tightrope walk of power and restraint shows on the silky palate, where fine, savory tannins support supple fruit, which pulses to a long finish. To this reviewer's taste, the cooler vintages of Grace offer more energy and personality, but 2018 will nonetheless be a classic wine for decades to come.” – CP (Jul 2023)