Henschke Hill of Grace 2022 14.5% 750ml

Henschke Hill of Grace 2022 14.5% 750ml 

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: Dark crimson with ruby hues. Enchanting aromas of blackberry, blueberry and fresh-cut plum are complemented by signature five-spice, black pepper, violets and cedar. A complex and elegant palate, abundant with mulberry, dark forest fruits and star anise, is balanced by fine acidity and layered, velvety tannins, delivering exceptional depth and length.

The Vintage: The winter of 2021 brought good rainfall, refilling soil profiles, and the cool, slow start to the growing season resulted in budburst occurring two weeks later than average. An extreme hail event on 28 October decimated the young shoot growth across our vineyards in Keyneton, significantly reducing crop potential. Late flowering (late November to early December) avoided the cold and windy conditions, resulting in good fruit set, albeit with smaller yields. A burst of summer heat, without extremes, supported berry development and balanced canopy growth. Welcome rain in late January occurred just before veraison and ripening, leading into a mild and dry finish to summer. The 2022 vintage was late, with harvest dates one to two weeks later than the historical average. The resulting wines speak faithfully of their place, with elegance, distinction and enduring beauty. Reminiscent of the high-quality vintages of 1991, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2015, the 2022 single-vineyard wines show wonderful ageing potential and will reward long-term cellaring under ideal conditions.

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

REVIEWS:

99 points 
“The 2022 Hill of Grace Shiraz leads with dark fruit and an abundance of exotic spice to match.…I love the 2022 vintage. It is fresh and detailed.…The allure of it now is not in question, either.”

-ERIN LARKIN, ROBERT PARKER WINE ADVOCATE

99+points
“May well be the prettiest Hill of Grace yet released. May also be the best, and that’s saying something. I thought 2021 was the greatest yet, then came 2022. … The depth and intensity of fruit that comes from vines that were planted in the 1860s is undeniable, but it’s all harnessed and focused into an effortless, long, and most graceful structure.”

-Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot

99 points
“A wine with a stored wisdom and depth of character, revealed by its marriage of dark berried fruit and exotic spices, a sophisticated ease of stature and balance of flavour, fruit drive, structure and volume, with underlying power and energy yet surprisingly fresh and vibrant. Completely in its own zone with a view to staying alive and exciting for many, many years.” 

-Tony Love, The Vintage Journal

98 points
“Australia's finest and most famous single-site shiraz. … It's the aromatic detail, texture and elegance that immediately stands out with the Hill of Grace. … The amplitude of this wine always amazes me. Everything just resonates perfectly; fruit, tannin and acidity are all in harmony and the arc across the palate is perfectly timed. Stunning.”
 

-Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion