Henschke 'Hill of Grace' Eden Valley Shiraz 2017
The Henschke eight-hectare 'Hill of Grace' vineyard is situated four kilometres northwest of Henschke Cellars beside the beautiful Gnadenberg Lutheran Church. ‘Gnadenberg’ means ‘Hill of Grace’ in German. First planted in 1860, it was purchased by second-generation Paul Gotthard Henschke in 1891, but it was not until 1958 that winemaker Cyril Henschke made the first single-vineyard Shiraz from the grapes grown here. The red-brown earth over a deep silty loam has excellent moisture-holding capacity for these old, ungrafted, dry-grown vines, which sit at an altitude of 400 metres. Organic and biodynamic practices in the vineyard are supported with under vine mulching and permanent cover crops. Deep ruby with vibrant crimson hues. Ethereal aromas of blackberry, raspberry compote, 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 and red currant, a savoury line of charcuterie, and mature, velvety tannins revealing seamless length and depth.
