Hill of Grace came delivered a majestic and long lived Shiraz in vintage 1978. The growing season was dry but temperate, unhampered by environmental vagaries, the old vine fruit was allowed to develop to textbook ripeness, the finished wine represents a classic Australian red of richness and longevity. Honest, earthy and tarry, an almost porty ripe Shiraz, vintage 1978 initially exhibited fleshiness and lively sweet fruit combined with a firm tannic backbone. An honest and generous edition with integrated oak and supple finish.
The meticulous Henschke viticultural management has seen a new breath of life into the ancient, venerable Hill of Grace vineyard. The original double storey cellar, built into the side of the hill in time for the 1868 vintage, has been added to throughout the generations. Now covered with ivy, the stone building retains an old world charm with its open fermenters and winemaking memorabilia on display. Grapes are picked early to mid April at a sugar level of around 24Brix, there is always a good acid/pH balance from the Hill of Grace vineyard. Unique and exceptional fruit, the anthocyanins, colour pigments, in the berries are very high, which perhaps offers a clue to the very high quality of the Hill of Grace Shiraz.
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