The 2017 Henschke Shiraz Hill of Grace is a highly acclaimed wine from the Eden Valley in South Australia. This Syrah stands out not only for its elegant complexity but also for its rich history and biodynamic cultivation.
Decanter praises the wine with a near-perfect score of 99, describing it as "muscular with great vitality and sensuality." The review highlights its intricate layers of fruit such as blackberry, blueberry, and red cherry, complemented by notes of china ink, black pepper, and baking spices. Decanter emphasizes its "terrific authority, strength, complexity and length."
James Suckling also awards the wine a score of 99, noting its "refined" character. He mentions flavors of roasted and smoked meat, juicy plums, and forest flowers, ending with a touch of light white pepper. Suckling underscores the wine’s "underlying finesse and elegance," stating that "the flavor does not go away."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gives it a slightly lower, but still impressive, score of 96. EL's review describes the wine as offering "notes of blueberry skin, crushed granite, essence of cassis, blackcurrant pastille, black tea, and hung deli meat." The palate is noted for its initial sweetness and complex savory undertones, described as a "thundering display of line, length and complexity."
Wine Enthusiast’s Christina Pickard rates it 97, celebrating its "unique expression of place and people." She describes the wine’s deep well of aromas, including tomato stem, blackberry, blueberry compote, cumin, and sage. Pickard notes the wine’s plushness, power, and poise, suggesting it can be enjoyed now or aged for another 15–20 years.
Wine Spectator also awards the wine a score of 97, appreciating its immediate charm and intricate complexity. The review highlights flavors like basil, kirsch, marzipan, Kalamata olive, and white truffle, and praises its "wave after wave of details" on the finish.
Halliday Wine Companion matches the top scores with another 99, calling it "Australia's finest single-vineyard site." The review elaborates on its historical significance and the vineyard’s gnarled Shiraz vines planted circa 1860. Halliday commends its "pitch-perfect and elegant" palate and "very long, silken finish."
Overall, the 2017 Henschke Shiraz Hill of Grace is a standout wine that has garnered exceptional reviews from critics, each highlighting its complex flavor profile, historical significance, and potential for aging.