2019 Hill of Grace Shiraz

The 2019 Hill of Grace Shiraz was picked earlier than the Mount Edelstone fruit, and it was picked on a single day, on March 8. This vineyard has more silt, and it brings out anise and five spice aromas in the wine. It ripens earlier than Mount Edelstone, is darker and more concentrated than the former and brings out the concentration of black fruit and fine tannins that the Eden Valley is so capable of. On the palate, the wine is super fragrant, elegant and fine, with bone broth and rose petals, peppercorns, crushed herbs, black cherry, raspberry pip, black tea and graphite. This is an eloquent wine, and it speaks of the evocatively beautiful place that is the Eden Valley. The tannins hold the fruit in a gentle way in the mouth. It is fine, such a fine expression—I must say, it's not at all what I expected of the 2019 vintage. It's a triumph of a wine. Super. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under Vinolok. Bottle number 0074.

Full Vinolok-stoppered bottle just 1,236g. 100% single-vineyard Shiraz from pre-phylloxera material brought from Europe in the mid 1800s and managed with organic and biodynamic practices. Harvested 8 March. Matured in 20% new and 80% seasoned (90% French, 10% American) oak hogsheads for 18 months prior to blending and bottling. TA 5.6 g/l, pH 3.61. Richly shaded, lustrous garnet. Rich, camphor nose with many layers. Real sweetness, with saltiness, on palate entry and waves of subsequent impact on the palate that has one of the longest finishes one might encounter. This remarkably small crop, thanks to hail and extreme heat in summer, shows no sign of dried fruit. There is quite enough juice and interest right through the tasting experience. Amazingly, you could enjoy drinking this now, even though the Henschkes suggest a life of 30 years from 2019. If I had a sore throat and a fairy godmother, this is what she would administer. (JR)

Full Vinolok-stoppered bottle just 1,236g. 100% single-vineyard Shiraz from pre-phylloxera material brought from Europe in the mid 1800s and managed with organic and biodynamic practices. Harvested 8 March. Matured in 20% new and 80% seasoned (90% French, 10% American) oak hogsheads for 18 months prior to blending and bottling. TA 5.6 g/l, pH 3.61. Richly shaded, lustrous garnet. Rich, camphor nose with many layers. Real sweetness, with saltiness, on palate entry and waves of subsequent impact on the palate that has one of the longest finishes one might encounter. This remarkably small crop, thanks to hail and extreme heat in summer, shows no sign of dried fruit. There is quite enough juice and interest right through the tasting experience. Amazingly, you could enjoy drinking this now, even though the Henschkes suggest a life of 30 years from 2019. If I had a sore throat and a fairy godmother, this is what she would administer. (JR)