2001 Henschke "Hill of Grace" Shiraz Eden Valley South Australia

SKU #1026087

95 points Wine Spectator: "Supple, round and distinctive for the way it balances gamy, meaty notes with rich fruit and spice. Offers black cherry, dark plum and clove character in abundance, while keeping its elements in deft harmony. Really stretches the flavor spectrum. A very special wine. Best from 2010 through 2025. 70 cases imported." (10/06) 94 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Dark ruby. Suave, complex aromas of blackcurrant, kirsch, licorice, mocha, toasty oak spices, cured meat and succulent herbs, with a hint of graphite. Lush and round, with deep, concentrated dark berry flavors accented by smoky, spicy oak, licorice candy and a suggestion of vanilla. This is surprisingly open and seamless, the gentle tannins absorbed by the sweet fruit and musky animal and herb flavors. The very long finish features penetrating blackberry and creme de cassis flavors, with suggestions of oak spice and smoked meat sneaking in late..." (Jul/Aug 06) 93 points Robert Parker: "The 2001 Shiraz Hill of Grace (100% Shiraz aged 18 months in 100% new French and American oak) is not a blockbuster, but rather a surprisingly elegant, full-flavored Shiraz offering notes of mocha, white chocolate, pepper, blackberry liqueur, and cassis. Fleshy and earthy, with outstanding purity, richness, and overall symmetry, it is a complex, more evolved example of this cuvee. It should age nicely for another 12-15 years." (10/05)

Price: $324.99

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Varietal:

Shiraz/Syrah

- One of France's noblest black grape varieties, Syrah is known for its intense and distinctive perfume reminiscent of briar fruit, tar, spice and black pepper and its firm structure. One of few black grape varietals frequently vinified on its own, the best examples of Syrah come from the Northern Rhône, particularly Hermitage, but also Côte-Rôtie, Cornas, Crozes-Hermitage and St-Joseph. These wines are very astringent in their youth, though some Crozes-Hermitage and St-Joseph can be enjoyed young, relatively speaking. Given the requisite patience, though, these wines can reveal amazing complexity and secondary fruit characteristics like plum and blackcurrant as well as subtle hints of smoke and flowers. In the Southern Rhône, Syrah is used to add structure and complexity to wines dominated by Grenache and complemented by Mourvèdre, like the more immediately drinkable Côte du Rhônes, as well as the long-lived wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In recent years, plantings of Syrah have spread throughout the Languedoc-Roussillon where it is produced on its own or blended with other varietals. Outside of France, the most important Syrah growing country is easily Australia, where it is called Shiraz. Quality levels here depend greatly on yields and geography, and the wines range from bold, fruity and easy-drinking to intense and ageable, like the famed Penfolds Grange. Often bottled on its own, in Australia Syrah is also can be blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre, as in the Southern Rhône, and is increasingly combined with Cabernet Sauvignon. Syrah has also been steadily increasing in popularity in California, thanks to a group of advocates called the Rhône Rangers. Its most successful iterations come from the Central and Sonoma Coasts, where winemakers are pushing boundaries and creating some incredible wines. In recent years Syrah has also found a number of proponents in Washington State, which is definitely a region to watch for this variety.
Country:

Australia

- While it is true that the greatest strides in Australian winemaking have come in the last 30 years or so, commercial viticulture began as early as the 1820s and has developed uninterrupted ever since. The majority of the great Region are in the southeastern area of the continent, with the Barossa Valley, Claire Valley, McLaren Vale, and Coonawarra in South Australia, the Yarra Yarra Velley and Pyrenees in Victoria and the Upper and Lower Hunter Valleys in New South Wales. Many of the wines from Southeastern Australia are based on Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon and various blends including Grenache and Mourvedre. In Western Australia, along the Margaret River, great strides are being made with Pinot Noir as well as Bordeaux-styled reds. There are also many world-class releases of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling from the land Down Under. While many equate Aussie wines with "value", there are more than a few extremely rare and pricey options, which never fail to earn the highest ratings from wine publications and critics throughout the world. Click for a list of bestselling items from Australia.
Sub-Region:

South Australia

Specific Appellation:

Eden Valley