Henschke - Shiraz Hill Of Grace Eden Valley 2018 (Pre-arrival) (750ml)
Price: $850.00
| Producer | Henschke |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Eden Valley |
| Varietal | Syrah |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Sku | 8443 |
| Size | 750ml |
Jane Anson: 100 Points
Inky plum colour the deepest of the Henschke single vineyard lineup for this iconic wine. Hang out with the aromatics before even heading in for a sip because they are beautiful with a hit of star anise fennel and white pepper. On the palate you get rosebud peony blackberry redcurrant and slate all revving up and lifting off. This just tingles with fine tannins and keeps you fully engaged - if you think Australia can't do cool-climate-style lusciously finessed wine prepare to be blown away. 100% Shiraz from ungrafted pre-Phylloxera material brought from Europe in the mid 1800s. Organic and biodynamic farming. 20% new oak largely French with a touch of American. Winemaker Stephen Henschke.
Halliday Wine Companion: 99 Points
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! Closure: Screw cap. 14.5% alcohol. AUD$950 (Drink by 2070)
Decanter: 99 Points
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. (Drink between 2023-2045)
Wine Advocate: 98 Points
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. Henschke is one of two Australian wineries awarded the Green Emblem award which recognizes their leadership in sustainability toward long-term environmental health and biodiversity. The wines are of exceptional quality and regional specificity across the board and the release of the 2018 Hill of Grace Shiraz (and the other top-tier reds from the same exceptional vintage) is a cause for excitement for writers and collectors alike. This year due to pressing travel commitments I sadly missed the 60th anniversary celebration hosted at the winery where 26 vintages of Hill of Grace were opened with bottles from all six decades of its production. It was a devastating blow to miss the tasting but I'm fortunate to have tasted this wine many times over the years from various decades and I am convinced that it evolves into a graceful wine of expressiveness and "sense of place." The 2018 vintage was a beauty: warm largely free from disease pressure and responsible for a suite of wines across the region that still today speak of vitality energy and grace. It will go down as one of the greats of the past decade and likely more and for me is on par with the great 2015. Henschke is one of two Australian wineries awarded the Green Emblem award which recognizes their leadership in sustainability toward long-term environmental health and biodiversity. The wines are of exceptional quality and regional specificity across the board and the release of the 2018 Hill of Grace Shiraz (and the other top-tier reds from the same exceptional vintage) is a cause for excitement for writers and collectors alike. This year due to pressing travel commitments I sadly missed the 60th anniversary celebration hosted at the winery where 26 vintages of Hill of Grace were opened with bottles from all six decades of its production. It was a devastating blow to miss the tasting but I'm fortunate to have tasted this wine many times over the years from various decades and I am convinced that it evolves into a graceful wine of expressiveness and "sense of place." The 2018 vintage was a beauty: warm largely free from disease pressure and responsible for a suite of wines across the region that still today speak of vitality energy and grace. It will go down as one of the greats of the past decade and likely more and for me is on par with the great 2015. Published: Apr 06 2023
Vinous: 97 Points
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. (Drink between 2040-2075)
Wine Enthusiast: 96 Points
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.
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