Product Info:
1998 saw a later harvest, with average yields, producing Shiraz of intense flavour. Its dark crimson, deep red hues give you an idea of what's to come. Lifted, pure, almost opulent, dark fruit and ripe plum aromas with herbal edges. The palate mirrors this opulence. Overall it's big and generous, with an impressively long palate. Well framed, elegantly balanced.
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 American and French oak hogsheads 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.
Maker:
The prestigious Australian winery Henschke has remained a family-owned establishment for over 153 years and six generations. Situated in Keyneton, South Australia, within the esteemed Eden Valley wine region, Henschke proudly stands as a distinguished member of Australia's First Families of Wine. Since its inception in 1862, when Johann Christian Henschke planted a modest vineyard in Keyneton, the Henschke family has continuously crafted exceptional wines, forging a legacy of excellence with vineyards in the Eden Valley, Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills, including acclaimed single-vineyards, Hill of Grace and Mount Edelstone.
The fifth-generation winemaker Stephen Carl Henschke and his viticulturist wife Prue took over the operation of the winery in 1979 and they are recognised around the world for their exceptional quality wines, innovative spirit, focus on restoring native vegetation, organic and biodynamic practices in the vineyard. Johann Stephen Henschke, the eldest of Stephen and Prue’s three children has become the sixth generation member of the Henschke family since 1983. With the background of higher education in wine making, viticulture and oenology, Johann is now based at the family winery as winemaker and viticulturist while playing an important role of transferring his skill set and knowledge from the fifth to sixth generation. As the next generation prepares to navigate the well-documented challenges that lie ahead, Johann recognizes the indispensability of innovation and meticulous strategic planning. However, amidst these considerations, he firmly believes in upholding the time-honoured winemaking techniques that have been cherished by the Henschke family for generations. By ensuring that the legacy of Henschke is nurtured with the same prudence and care as it has always been, Johann and his peers can pass on a heritage that will endure and command the same esteemed reputation that it enjoys today.
Vineyard:
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.
Nose - Tobacco Leaf, Plum, Leather Handbag
Lifted, pure, almost opulent, dark fruit and ripe plum aromas with herbal minty notes.
Palate - Opulent Fruit, Herbal Edges, Rhone Spices
This is an intense, vegetal, spicy, Rhone-like style with enormous character and volume of flavour.
Finish - Savoury, Dried Herbs, Sandy Tannins
Layers of youthful tannins, that showcase the structure of this elegantly balanced wine.
Exceptional vintage. Deepish red colour with brick-red tinges and good depth. Very complex, mellow, tobacco, vegetable and slightly animal aromas. This is an intense, vegetal, spicy, Rhone-like style with enormous character and volume of flavour. A spectacular wine. Big and generous, very long palate and hugely satisfying. Concentration galore, but perhaps lacks the elegance of the best of them. Will be very long-lived. - Huon Hooke, The Real Review, 96 Points.
Dark crimson. Healthy looking. Minty note for the first time. Very direct nose. Opulent fruit. Rich. Exotic ladies’-handbags notes. Broad and attention grabbing. Mellow start but then the framework becomes quite obvious. Ambitious. - Jancis Robinson, 19 Points.
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Shiraz
Vintage - 1998
Country - Australia
Region - Eden Valley
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.7%
