Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz 2013

Product Information: 2013 was a rollercoaster vintage, remembered for its heat spikes and some timely rain even. Another year of average yields but with fabulous quality. Very deep crimson in colour. Rich and beguiling aromas of blackberry, blueberry and dark plum, followed by signature exotic five spice, star anise, and sage, with underlying nuances of beef stock an dark cedar. Intense and layered, the complex palate bursts with a dense, pure core of sweet spiced plum and blackberry, coated by firm yet integrated, fine velvety tannins which draw away to an extraordinarily long finish and lingering flavours of dried, sweet spices. Matured in 86% French and 14% American (56% new, 44% seasoned) hogsheads for 18 months prior to blending and bottling. Aged in bottle for around four years. 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 lead-up to the 2013 vintage saw an early onset of summer, with occasional thunderstorms and only four heat spikes, into the 40s, over summer. A cooler than average January followed by a warm February, brought the predicted early vintage even further forward. Even after the dry-fecta of winter/spring/summer the word from the winery floor was that it would be another great Eden Valley riesling year, followed up with some great old-vine shiraz, Fortunately, a desperately needed 16mm of rain came, the first for nearly six months, at the beginning of March to help the dry-grown vines struggle through to full maturity. The roller-coaster weather ride continued through March with almost weekly cycles of hot and cold. Cool drizzly weather at the end of March nearly brought the harvest to a halt, but a return to the Indian summer conditions in early April gave us a chance to get the late varieties in Eden Valley over the line for another great vintage of average yields and fabulous quality. 100% Shiraz from pre-phylloxera material brought from Europe by the early settlers in the mid 1800s. The Grandfather vines were planted in Parrot Hill around 1860 by Nicolaus Stanitzki on a plot of rich, red-brown alluvial soil with silty loam. A couple of years prior to that, August Henschke had bought land at Parrot Hill in the Eden Valley, donating a corner of his acreage for the Gnadenberg (Hill of Grace) Lutheran Church to be built on. The vineyard took its name from the church. In 1891, the Henschkes bought the vineyard. 1958 was the first vintage of the single-vineyard Hill of Grace wine. A hot vintage. Dry-grown vines at 400 m. Hand picked from 21 February to 7 March. ‘We pick Hill of Grace always on the full moon of Easter.’ Nose – Sage, Plum Cake, Tilled Earth Rich array of baking spices permeating ripe blackberries, red berries and plums. Palate – Tarry, Ripe Blood Plums, Deep Spice Concentrated core of blackberries, tarry, dark stony flavours, ripe blood plums and a long trail of deeply spicy warmth through the finish. Finish – Thyme, Dried Wild Herbs, Mints Thyme and