Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz 2016

Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz 2016Henschke is one of Australias oldest family owned wineries, has been crafting wine for over 150 years in the Eden Valley region of the Barossa. Founded in 1868, the winery is deeply committed to a fully integrated approach between vineyard and winery, reflecting six generations of family tradition in grapegrowing and winemaking across the Eden Valley, Barossa Valley, and Adelaide Hills. Over 180 years ago, Johann Christian Henschke came from Silesia

Henschke is one of Australia’s oldest family-owned wineries, has been crafting wine for over 150 years in the Eden Valley region of the Barossa. Founded in 1868, the winery is deeply committed to a fully integrated approach between vineyard and winery, reflecting six generations of family tradition in grapegrowing and winemaking across the Eden Valley, Barossa Valley, and Adelaide Hills.

Over 180 years ago, Johann Christian Henschke came from Silesia to settle and build his farm in the Eden Valley region. By the time third-generation Paul Alfred Henschke took over the reins in 1914, the now famed Hill of Grace vines were more than 50 years old. The original vines, known as the ‘Grandfathers’, were planted around 1860 by an ancestor, Nicolaus Stanitzki, in rich alluvial soil in a shallow fertile valley just north-west of the Henschke family winery. The red-brown earth grading to deep silty loam has excellent moisture-holding capacity for these dry-grown vines, that sit at an altitude of 400m, with an average rainfall of 520mm.

Hill of Grace is a unique, delineated, historic single vineyard that lies opposite a beautiful old Lutheran church, which is named after a region in Silesia known as Gnadenberg, translating to ‘Hill of Grace’. Cyril Henschke made the first single-vineyard shiraz wine from this vineyard in 1958 from handpicked grapes vinified in traditional open-top fermenters. The original Ancestors (vines over 125 years) are now approximately 160 years old and remain the heart of the Hill of Grace wine, along with a small selection of Centenarians (vines over 100 years), Survivors (vines over 70 years), and Old Vines (vines over 35 years), all planted on their own roots.

Matured in 85% French and 15% American (29% new and 71% seasoned) hogsheads for 18 months prior to blending and bottling.

Note: The vintage shown in the image may differ from the actual vintage available. Please refer to the product description for the correct vintage.

Tasting Notes

"From a core of vines planted around 1860 (plus some 100+ and 35+yo vines) at 400m elevation. Matured 18 months in 85/15% French/ American oak, 29% new. Such effortless grace and caressing elegance, in the presence of commanding endurance that will sustain it for half a century. This is the paradox that defines the legendary fable that is Hill of Grace. The 2016 embodies this: the profound depth of black fruits, bathed in the inimitable fragrance and exotic Chinese five-spice that characterises these old vines, set to tannins more finely textured yet more commanding than ever. Resist the seductive temptations of its youth and drink the 2015 first, because the true spectacle of 2016 is decades away." 99 Points - Halliday Wine Companion, Tyson Stelzer (2021).