1996 Henschke Shiraz Hill of Grace
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Tasting notes
The single vineyard 1996 Shiraz Hill of Grace displays ample fruit volume, excellent ripeness and generosity thanks to the vintage yet retains the Henschke house style. It opens with baked cherry and forest fruits before more earthy aged clay and terracotta tones emerge. A firm, robust, punchy palate follows, dominated by fruit pastilles and dried sage with some gamey complexity poking through. Firm yet manicured tannins with impressive balance guarantee a lengthy future.
Critic scores
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Mild summer and long, cool, dry autumn . Very youthful ripe berry aromas, bramble, plum, dark fruit. Fine, young seamless tannin flows across the tongue. All lifted up by a complex spicy character that Stephen Henschke describes as ‘sage’, but I think, here, reminds me more of native Australian strawberry gum (both contain the aromatic cineole). (MA)
Deep garnet-brick in color, the 1996 Hill of Grace reveals a nose redolent of cherry pie, incense, Chinese five spice, soy and cigars. Very spicy in the mouth, it has balanced acid and a medium level of chewy tannins before finishing long. It is mature now but no rush to drink. Importer: Negociants USA, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-0993
Glowing crimson. Pale rim. Heady and gorgeous and subtle. Sweet start and lots of development, The tannins are fully molten. Though some emerge on the finish. Pure hedonism. Curry powder. (JR)