Henschke Hill of Grace 2021 14.5% 750ml

Henschke Hill of Grace 2021 14.5% 750ml Eden Valley Shiraz

GRAPE VARIETY 
100% shiraz from pre-phylloxera material brought from Europe in the mid-1800s and grown on the Henschke Hill of Grace Vineyard in the Eden Valley wine region, managed with organic and biodynamic practices. 

Tasting Notes: Deep crimson with ruby hues. Enchanting aromas of black plum, Dutch cocoa, blackberry, blueberry and cassis, layered with evocative spice notes of star anise, nutmeg, crushed flowering herbs, sage oil and black peppercorn. A fine and elegant palate of complex spiced dark berries, violets and hints of cedar, with refined acidity carrying feathered, velvety tannins for a long and lingering, effortless finish.

The Vintage: Average rainfall in the winter of 2020 was followed by even budburst, with buds showing good fruitfulness. Frost damage was significant, and spring was cloudy, with good rains pre-flowering, followed by short bursts of hot weather in late November. The late-flowering varieties were impacted by heat at the end of November and strong winds in early December damaged the canopies, although the crop remained disease free. January was dry, with a burst of heat prior to a perfectly timed rain event at veraison in early February. The lead up to vintage was cool, cloudy and mostly dry. After our coolest summer for 19 years, a warm autumn provided ideal conditions for ripening in our red varieties, achieving excellent colour, flavour intensity and tannin maturity. The 2021 vintage will be considered a standout of the decade; remembered for complex wines with exceptional varietal expression, balance and purity, that speak of the ancient land from which they originate. With a likeness to the high-quality vintages of 1986, 2002, 2005, and 2015, all of which were mild seasons, the 2021 single-vineyard wines show an impressive potential for long-term ageing in ideal cellaring conditions.

CELLARING POTENTIAL 
Exceptional vintage; 30+ years (from vintage)