Region: South Australia
Sub Region: Eden Valley
Variety: Shiraz
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2008
Style: Dry red
Format: 750 mL, in its wooden box
The Wine
Hill of Grace comes from the vineyard below the Gnadenberg Lutheran Church at Parrot Hill in Eden Valley. Nicolaus Stanitzki planted its oldest Shiraz vines, the Grandfathers, in 1860. Cyril Henschke made the first Hill of Grace in 1958, giving this one site a name of its own at a time when many of Australia’s great reds were regional blends.
The 2008 came through a mild spring before a severe March heatwave. The fruit was picked in the cool of the morning between 9 and 13 March, with the vineyard blocks made and matured separately. The wine spent 21 months in new French and American oak hogsheads before the final blend was assembled.
This is a generous vintage, with the blackberry and Satsuma plum of the young wine framed by black tea, anise and the vineyard’s familiar five-spice character. The density is considerable, but there is freshness underneath it and a long line of fine tannin. At this age, there’s the pleasure of seeing that deep fruit take on more of the cedar, leather and dried herb detail that comes with time in bottle.
Cellared Says
If I were choosing a Hill of Grace to open, the 2008 would be very tempting. It’s a full, concentrated year and the thing I’d look for now is how the vineyard’s tea and spice come through as the fruit recedes. At eighteen years, it gives you a chance to see what the old vines and the long wait add up to. I’d make it the centrepiece of the evening, pour a little first and see how it moves in the glass.
Reviews
“It is explosively rich and decadent, with oceans of sumptuous black fruits …”
98 Points — James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion
“Spicy and racy and with real energy. Dry finish but lovely five-spice notes.”
19/20 — Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com
Region: South Australia
Sub Region: Eden Valley
Variety: Shiraz
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2008
Style: Dry red
Format: 750 mL, in its wooden box
The Wine
Hill of Grace comes from the vineyard below the Gnadenberg Lutheran Church at Parrot Hill in Eden Valley. Nicolaus Stanitzki planted its oldest Shiraz vines, the Grandfathers, in 1860. Cyril Henschke made the first Hill of Grace in 1958, giving this one site a name of its own at a time when many of Australia’s great reds were regional blends.
The 2008 came through a mild spring before a severe March heatwave. The fruit was picked in the cool of the morning between 9 and 13 March, with the vineyard blocks made and matured separately. The wine spent 21 months in new French and American oak hogsheads before the final blend was assembled.
This is a generous vintage, with the blackberry and Satsuma plum of the young wine framed by black tea, anise and the vineyard’s familiar five-spice character. The density is considerable, but there is freshness underneath it and a long line of fine tannin. At this age, there’s the pleasure of seeing that deep fruit take on more of the cedar, leather and dried herb detail that comes with time in bottle.
Cellared Says
If I were choosing a Hill of Grace to open, the 2008 would be very tempting. It’s a full, concentrated year and the thing I’d look for now is how the vineyard’s tea and spice come through as the fruit recedes. At eighteen years, it gives you a chance to see what the old vines and the long wait add up to. I’d make it the centrepiece of the evening, pour a little first and see how it moves in the glass.
Reviews
“It is explosively rich and decadent, with oceans of sumptuous black fruits …”
98 Points — James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion
“Spicy and racy and with real energy. Dry finish but lovely five-spice notes.”
19/20 — Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com
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