2008 Hill of Grace

Eden Valley

Shiraz

Deep ruby with bright red hues. Beautifully fragrant and ethereal aromas of boysenberry, blueberry, black forest, bramble and five spice, with underlying notes of violet, sandalwood, leather and cedar. A plush and concentrated palate of black plum, cherry and blue fruits are layered with sage, star anise, exotic spice and black pepper. Velvety, fine-grained tannins deliver a long and elegant finish.

$1,250.00
$1,250.00
Deep ruby with bright red hues. Beautifully fragrant and ethereal aromas of boysenberry, blueberry, black forest, bra...

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BACKGROUND

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.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Varieties: 100% Shiraz
Harvest Date: 9 - 13 March
Alcohol: 14.5%
Vintage rating: Excellent vintage
Cellaring potential: Drink now - 2045+

VINTAGE

A mild and unusually frost-free spring provided regular rainfall in the lead up to a dry and hot summer. Fine flowering weather led to good fruit set, despite the drought of the previous year. Weather from mid-January through to February was the coolest in 30 years. An unpreceded 15-day heat wave in March caused vine stress, significant leaf drop, escalated sugar levels and fruit shrivel. Handpicking ensured the best quality fruit of intense colour and flavour was selected.

TASTING NOTES

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.

Varieties: 100% Shiraz
Harvest Date: 9 - 13 March
Alcohol: 14.5%
Vintage rating: Excellent vintage
Cellaring potential: Drink now - 2045+

A mild and unusually frost-free spring provided regular rainfall in the lead up to a dry and hot summer. Fine flowering weather led to good fruit set, despite the drought of the previous year. Weather from mid-January through to February was the coolest in 30 years. An unpreceded 15-day heat wave in March caused vine stress, significant leaf drop, escalated sugar levels and fruit shrivel. Handpicking ensured the best quality fruit of intense colour and flavour was selected.

20/20
“Deep shaded dark ruby. Wonderfully intense and complex nose. This wine just wraps itself around you! (And I haven't even tasted it yet.) Intense cocktail of prunes and something floral. Really rich. Luscious palate of gorgeously ripe fruit, just the right level of refreshing acidity with mineral top notes. Extremely rewarding with many layers. Very long indeed.”

JANCIS ROBINSON, JANSCISROBINSON.COM

19.5/20
“With trademark exoticism and deep violet florals, this is an elegant, spicy, superb wine with a calmness and luxuriousness that is already starting to assimilate. Long, layered and refined, this is a wonderfully refreshing wine; at 16 years old, it still looks bright and bold.”

MATTHEW JUKES, MATTHEWJUKES.COM

99 points
“Very deep, concentrated brick-red colour of appropriate maturity, the bouquet dominated by earthy/forest-floor savoury tertiary aromas with old leather armchairs, terracotta and dried porcini mushroom aromas to the fore. A subtle trace of licorice. Sumptuous palate flavour, with masses of tannin but also a core of sweet fruit endures. The finish is energetic and driving, the aftertaste lingers on for an eternity. A majestic mature shiraz in the prime of...

HUON HOOKE, THE REAL REVIEW

98 points
“It is in a terrific place with gentle red fruits and layers of complex fine spice, sage, leather, tobacco and intriguing tertiary characters coming into play along with gentle oak spice and a dab of milk chocolate. Comforting, graceful and long of finish. The interplay of characters is constantly evolving in the glass and it is in great form at this stage of its evolution.”

DAVE BROOKES, HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION

98+ POINTS
“Fresh blackberry pastille, espresso, roasted chestnut, vanilla, hint marzipan with wax polish, herb notes. Superbly balanced wine with deep set blackberry pastille, dark chocolate, roasted coffee flavours, fine chalky tannins and well-balanced vanilla marzipan roasted chestnut, hint coconut notes. Builds up graphite/ chocolaty firm with seductive sweet fruits and lovely mineral length. Lovely density, richness, and torque. This is in a really great place. I tasted the 2008 Hill of...

ANDREW CAILLARD MW, THE VINTAGE JOURNAL