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Wine Products » Shiraz :: 1998 Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz
Background Hill of Grace is a unique delineated single historic vineyard. The famous century-old Hill of Grace vines were planted around the 1860s by an ancestor, Nicolaus Stanitzki, in rich alluvial soil in a shallow fertile valley just north-west of the winery. The vineyard lies opposite a beautiful old Lutheran Church, built of local field stone, which was euphoniously named Gnadenberg, meaning ‘Hill of Grace’. Vintage Description The preceding winter was unusually dry, with frosty nights and clear days. The rain instead came in spring, and the luxuriantly growing vines benefited from the greenhouse effect. The indicators were of a hot dry summer, although only a serious burst of heat was experienced in mid January and again at the end of February; otherwise it was a mild summer, which had a significant delaying effect on the ripening process. An early onset of autumn caused a late harvest, with average yields, good to exceptional quality and intense flavour in the grapes. Grape Variety 100% shiraz grapes from pre-phylloxera material brought from Europe by the early settlers in the mid 1800s and grown in the Eden Valley wine region Wine Description Very deep crimson in colour. A sweet ripe complex exotic nose of prunes, plums, blackberries, cedar and chocolate aromas. A rich sweet succulent palate, complex and wellstructured with excellent concentration and texture, finishing long with velvety tannins. Cellaring Potential Exceptional vintage, optimum year 2018. Decant before serving. Serving Ideas Wild hare with field mushrooms. Technical Data Harvest date: 15 - 16 April Alcohol: 13.7 pH 3.41 Acid: 6.1 It is hard to find a more compelling red than Henschke’s 1998 Shiraz Hill of Grace. Made from 100% Shiraz (from vines averaging 52-144 years of age), and aged in primarily new American and French oak for 18 months, it is unquestionably profound. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by a gorgeous perfume of blackberries, graphite, and subtle wood. Dense and full-bodied yet extraordinarily well-defined and layered, it remains young and backward, with tremendous potential. It is the finest Hill of Grace I have ever passed over my palate and down the gullet. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2020+.
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