Minor Label Damage
Overview
The 2012 Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz is one of Australia's most prestigious and collectible single-vineyard red wines, produced from ancient, ungrafted Shiraz vines in Eden Valley, South Australia. Sourced from the historic Hill of Grace Vineyard, where the oldest vines date back to the 1860s, this exceptional 750ml release combines concentrated blackberry and plum fruit with exotic spice, savoury complexity and remarkably silky tannins. A celebrated expression of pre-phylloxera Australian Shiraz, the 2012 vintage offers extraordinary elegance, depth and long-term ageing potential.
Awards & Critic Reviews
Wine of the Year — Halliday/Qantas epiQure Wine Companion Awards 2018
Wine of the Year — Tyson Stelzer's Australian & New Zealand Wines of the Year 2017
No. 1 — James Suckling's Top 100 Australian Wines 2017
100/100 — Peter Moser, Falstaff
“Immensely complex and fruity, on the palate ripe plum, blackberry”
Tasted 22 October 2020
99/100 — Decanter
Tasted July 2018
99/100 — Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Tasted September 2017
98/100 — Wine Spectator
Tasted June 2017
97/100 — The Wine Front
Tasted April 2017
97/100 — Jeremy Oliver
Tasted January 2013
96/100 — Wine Enthusiast
“The palate is silky and savory”
Tasted January 2018
96/100 — Wine & Spirits Magazine
Tasted February 2018
Producer Tasting Notes
Colour
Deep garnet with ruby hues.
Aroma
Ethereal aromas of red and black berries, satsuma plum and tamarind are layered with sage, cassis, star anise, exotic five spice and shiitake mushroom notes.
Palate
On the palate, lush red plum, mulberry and blackberry are interlaced with black olive and cedar, carried by bright acidity and fine, powdery tannins for a seamless finish.
Vintage & Winemaking
The 2012 Eden Valley vintage was characterised by a weakening La Niña pattern and below-average winter and spring rainfall. Mild spring conditions were followed by a relatively cool summer, with only two brief heat events. Slow, even ripening encouraged concentrated fruit flavours, vibrant colour, natural acidity and mature tannins. Rainfall in late January and February helped sustain the dry-grown vines, leading to an extended harvest and excellent fruit maturity.
Fruit was harvested between 19 March and 4 April 2012. The wine was matured for 18 months in oak hogsheads, comprising 58% new and 42% seasoned oak, with 85% French and 15% American oak. Individual vineyard parcels were blended before bottling, followed by further maturation in the Henschke cellar.
Hill of Grace Vineyard
Hill of Grace is a historic eight-hectare vineyard situated near the village of Parrot Hill, approximately four kilometres northwest of the Henschke winery in Eden Valley. Its original Shiraz vines, known as the "Grandfathers", were planted around 1860 by Nicolaus Stanitzki using pre-phylloxera European vine material.
The vineyard's ancient, ungrafted vines grow on their own roots in alluvial sandy loam over clay, at approximately 400 metres elevation. The dry-grown vineyard is managed using organic and biodynamic practices, including mulching, composting and permanent native grasses to promote soil health and moisture retention.
Only selected parcels from the vineyard's oldest Shiraz blocks contribute to Hill of Grace, producing wines distinguished by their concentration, elegance and expression of this exceptional historic site.
About the Producer
Henschke is one of Australia's most celebrated family-owned wineries, with a winemaking heritage extending across six generations in South Australia's Eden Valley. The family's association with Hill of Grace began in the nineteenth century, and Cyril Henschke produced the first single-vineyard Hill of Grace Shiraz in 1958.
Stephen and Prue Henschke have continued the family's commitment to preserving ancient vineyards and producing wines of exceptional purity, balance and longevity. Hill of Grace remains an icon of Australian fine wine, renowned internationally for its historic pre-phylloxera vines and distinctive Eden Valley character.
Specifications
| Producer |
Henschke |
| Wine |
Hill of Grace Shiraz |
| Vintage |
2012 |
| Country |
Australia |
| Region |
Eden Valley, South Australia |
| Grape Variety |
100% Shiraz |
| Vineyard |
Hill of Grace Single Vineyard |
| Oldest Vines |
Planted circa 1860 |
| Vineyard Practices |
Dry-grown, Organic and Biodynamic Practices |
| Harvest |
19 March – 4 April 2012 |
| Wine Style |
Dry Still Red Wine |
| Alcohol |
14.5% |
| Maturation |
18 Months in Oak Hogsheads (58% New, 42% Seasoned; 85% French, 15% American) |
| Total Acidity |
6.3 g/L |
| pH |
3.56 |
| Volume |
750ml |
| Food Pairing |
Roast lamb, grilled beef, venison, wild mushrooms |
| Serving Temperature |
16–18°C |
| Drinking Window |
Through 2055+ |
