Henschke Hill of Grace Eden Valley Shiraz 2016
98 Points
$890 – Drink 2023 – 2038

Deep garnet. A quiet start – builds slowly – black plum, preserved fig, blackberry, briar, earth, leather, cola.

Classic seamless and deep concentration of fruit on the palate – quite subtle, not forward in the least – it’s dark and intriguing and harmonious. Tannins are fine and savoury, tight and long. Oak is a picture of integration. The fruit is intense, exploring added notes of aniseed, bitter chocolate and more on the palate.

This is a wine that urges you to think about IT, it’s not going to deliver everything on a plate to you immediately. You are required to put something into the process, too! It remains tight-lipped, structured and firm  . . . just for the present. Like the Mount Edelstone, Hill of Grace is assured of a long life.

Henschke Hill of Roses Eden Valley Shiraz 2016
97 Points
$415 – Drink 2021 – 2032

So fragrant and lively at five-years-old, it pulsates with life. Is it the power of suggestion but are there dark rose notes amongst the violet and floral aromatics? Maybe the mind is playing tricks with this wine. If it is, it’s not a bad trick to play.

Alluring aromas here of turned earth, briar, black fruits, port wine dark jelly, anise, and baking spice.

A balance of sweet shiraz fruit intensity, a smidge of the savoury and a lifted, aromatic prettiness and delicacy.  Oak and tannins fully absorbed. A warm and embracing but also substantial shiraz that will age a treat.

Henschke Mount Edelstone Eden Valley Shiraz 2016
96 Points
$225 – Drink 2022 – 2036

Dense, bright purple. An arresting dried herb/nori savouriness to the fore on this wine backed up beautifully by black fruits, loganberry, blueberry and an aromatic swirl of spice.

A concentrated palate with a sustained tannin push marks this vintage of Mount Edelstone for me. It’s a tight coil of individual components led by tannin that leads me directly to the cellar. This is a wine assured of a long life.

Henschke Tappa Pass Barossa Shiraz 2018
95 Points
$115 – Drink 2021 – 2032

Gorgeous fruit exuberance to this wine – utterly delightful – in the scent of black fruits, red liquorice, blueberry, a note of confection here, a sweet pocket of wine gums/pastille there. 

Linear and fine-edged in structure, silky tannins and a powerful core of succulent, sweet-hearted fruit and spice flavours. Oak is present but there is no reliance on it. Like velvet on the tongue and boasting wonderful length.