Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz 1995

The coming of age of the 1995 Hill of Grace is the stuff of fairy tale. Once overlooked, this wine has evolved into something truly exceptional. Tasted again in 2023, it earned a near-perfect 99 points from Huon Hooke, a remarkable leap of eleven points from a decade prior. It’s a testament to the magic that patience can bring. Exquisitely scents of mountain florals, blackberry and smoked charcuterie. The palate is satin-like, seamless and harmonious for an eternity. A true showstopper for any occasion.

Comprised of 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. Matured in new French and American hogsheads for 21 months prior to blending and bottling.

Over 180 years ago, Johann Christian Henschke came from Silesia to settle and build his farm in the Eden Valley region. By the time third-generation Paul Alfred Henschke took over the reins in 1914, the now famed Hill of Grace vines were more than 50 years old. The original vines, known as the ‘Grandfathers’, were planted around 1860 by an ancestor, Nicolaus Stanitzki, in rich alluvial soil in a shallow fertile valley just north-west of the Henschke family winery. The red-brown earth grading to deep silty loam has excellent moisture-holding capacity for these dry-grown vines, that sit at an altitude of 400m, with an average rainfall of 520mm. Hill of Grace is a unique, delineated, historic single vineyard that lies opposite a beautiful old Lutheran church.