Henschke releases 2015 Hill of Grace

This year would break hearts less stout than Stephen and Prue Henschke.

In January, their Lenswood vineyard – responsible for the impressive Giles Pinot Noir and Croft Chardonnay, among other wines – was ravaged by bushfire and its vines burned to stumps.

In their Eden Valley vineyards, frost, drought and difficulties during vine flowering resulted in tiny yields for the 2020 harvest.

And the COVID-19 threat demanded the separation of winery workers that slowed vintage processing.

But amid such anguish, the Henschkes can take pause to smile about their latest luxury wine release, available from 6 May.

It shows that the 2015 vintage produced outstanding old-vine Shiraz, and that three elite releases from this vintage show distinctly different characteristics that clearly reflect their different terroirs.

This 58th vintage (and 54th release) of Hill of Grace Shiraz, from the eponymous 4ha vineyard boasting 160-year-old dry-grown vines, remains a force unto itself, with its fruit handpicked significantly later than its Eden Valley and Barossa neighbours – from 17-26 March 2015, a week before the harvest moon of Easter.

Extraordinarily, their 103-year-old Mount Edelstone vines, located just a few kilometres away, give a wine of striking contrast, while Shiraz from their Eden Valley vineyard (blended with Bordeaux grapes) in the Euphonium blend, shows yet another bold character.

Good yields in 2015, along with a cool ripening season in the high-altitude Eden Valley that allowed the Shiraz berries to ripen slowly and retain strong natural acidity, has ensured good supply of the distinctive single-vineyard wines.

A peek at the 2016 vintage, via the Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon, shows that yet more treasures remain in store.

For prices and availability of these new releases, contact importers Liberty Wines in the UK (www.libertywines.co.uk) and Winebow Imports in the US (www.winebow.com).

Four new releases from Henschke

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