98 Points - James Halliday | 98 Points - Andrew Caillard
The 2019 vintage marks the 58th release of the iconic Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz, which has firmly entrenched itself as one of Australia's greatest wines. The 2019 vintage was one of the most difficult, and as a result, smallest vintages on record. Drought, frost, hail and the hottest day ever recorded all made this a memorable vintage. On average grape yield was down 85%, and some wines, such as the Hill of Roses, were not made at all.
The 2019 Henschke Hill Of Grace Shiraz deep ruby with vibrant crimson hues. Ethereal aromas of blackberry, raspberry compote, Satsuma plum, star anise and cocoa, entwined with crushed flowering herbs, fresh bay leaf, dried sage and rose petal. The palate is rich, complex, powerful and mouth coating with incredible freshness and elegant, silky layers of dark blackberry, Satsuma plum and red currant, a savoury line of charcuterie, and mature, velvety tannins revealing seamless length and depth.
“99 Points. The vivid colour, the perfume of the bouquet, the harmony of the red and black fruits, and the reassurance of precisely tailored tannins all add to the triumph of Prue Henschke in the vineyard, and Stephen Henschke in the winery. The synergy between these parts is such that there's no hint of a difficult - indeed, very difficult -vintage.”- James Halliday, The Weekend Australian.
“97 Points. Deep crimson. Beautiful cassis, blackberry pastille, roasted chestnut, espresso, herb garden, star anise aromas. Silky smooth and inky textured wine with ample blackcurrant, blackberry pastille fruits, fine loose knit graphite tannins, crunchy fresh acidity and beautifully balanced mocha, roasted chestnut, hazelnut nougat, dark chocolate notes. A lovely chalky bitter-sweet finish with a fine tannin plume. Saturated and buoyant with superb mineral length. Atypical for Hill of Grace but I suspect bottle age will haul it back into line. A fascinating vintage and a beautifully made wine.”- Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal.
“97 Points. Deep colour, still retaining a good tint of purple, the bouquet dusty/ earthy/ terracotta at first, then spicy berry fruits and earthy char notes join in, with black-loam nuances and the palate is deep and savoury, full-bodied and well supplied with drying tannins. The wine took time in the glass to reveal the fine detail for which the vineyard is renowned. The finish is big on black pepper drying tannins and savouriness. Concentrated and deep, and begs to be left alone in the cellar for a few years.”- Huon Hooke, The Real Review.
