Winery: Henschke
Region: Hill of Grace Vineyard, Eden Valley
Variety: Shiraz
Vintage: 2006
 
Your Wine Guy says:
 
What can you say about Australia’s most famous single vineyard red wine that comes from arguably the oldest Shiraz vines on the planet, planted over 145 years ago. The Hill of Grace is constantly highly sought after by Shiraz aficionados, connoisseurs and collectors around the world.
Intensity is the order of the day. The nose shows fragrant violets, dark chocolate notes combining with seductive dark berry fruits ahead of deep-seated spice and earthy notes.  The palate explodes with great intensity too, combining intense blue and blackberry ‘fruits of the forest’ characters with exquisitely balanced spicy/toasty/vanillin oak that leave a lasting impression of delicious flavour; a Hill of Grace signature. Almost perfect, this is a liquid national treasure with anywhere from 25+ magnificent years ahead in the right cellar. Australia's most famous single vineyard, the 2006 will go down among the greatest Henschke have ever produced.
Only small amounts of this fantastic excursion into vinous history are produced each year with tiny allocations made available to certain distributors outside the top restaurants of Australia and the World, and this vintage has been eagerly awaited ... get in while you can.
Rating 98 Points YWG Drink to 2035+
 
Limit 1 bottle per customer
 
Critics say:
 
“Bright red-purple; highly fragrant spice, cedar, red and black berry aromas, oak evident but not excessive; it has a silky, velvety texture and mouthfeel to a beautifully balanced medium-bodied palate brimming with black fruits; wonderful length and finish. Surely one of the best Hill of Graces.”
James Halliday The Weekend Australian Magazine, May 2010
Rating 97 Points
 
“There’s plenty of tasteful malty nutty oak, a little minty fragrance, spice and pepper with rich black and blue fruits. It’s full bodied with a slippery seductive texture - the tannins super fine but fully supportive of the rich fruit. Savoury oak shows a firm hand at this early stage, but is in harmony. I noted a slight saltiness and warmth too, but not as negatives. Combines intensity and abundant flavour without being heavy or leaden. Superb long peppery finish. It’s surprisingly approachable now, and with a good decant will make a satisfying drink for the rich and/or hasty, although obviously its best days are ahead of it.”
Gary Walsh The Wine Front, April 2010
Rating 96 Points Drink 2016 to 2026+
 
The winemaker says:
 
Colour: Dark crimson.
Nose: A complex, spicy nose of tar, anise, blackberries and blueberries with hints of five spice, vanilla and cedar.
Palate: The sweet, lush and fleshy palate displays great depth and texture, with excellent length and intensity and fine, velvety tannins.Exceptionalvintage, drink now to 2026.– Henschke Wines
 
Winery/Vintage Information:
 
By the time third-generation Paul Alfred Henschke took over the reins in 1914, the famous Hill of Grace Shiraz vines were more than 50 years old. They were planted around the 1860s from pre-phylloxera material brought from Europe by the early settlers in the mid-1800s and grown in the Eden Valley wine region. Cyril Henschke, the fourth generation, made the first single-vineyard wine from these vines in 1958. The original vines are now over 145 years old.
100% Shiraz grapes from pre-phylloxera material brought from Europe by the early settlers in the mid-1800s and grown on the Hill of Grace vineyard in the Eden Valley wine region.– Henschke Wines