Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz 2010

Deep, dark red colour with a marked purple tint. The bouquet is very powerful and loaded with mint, tamarillo, eucalyptus and both red and dark berry aromas. An explosive wine in the mouth, the palate tremendously intense and concentrated, powerful and penetrating, with seemingly endless length. Very alive and infused with refreshing and balanced acidity, this extraordinary wine tastes as though it could live forever. Certainly one of the best Hill of Grace releases. Only time will reveal if it is the best ever. (65% new oak, 95% of it French) To be released May 2015.

A fine, intricate web of tannins harnesses equally intricate layers of flavour which build steadily. Juniper, dried herbs, liquorice, charcuterie and a hint of eucalyptus are filled out by sweet, juicy briar on the attack, creamy, mocha-edged framboise to the mid-palate and deep-set, very persistent blackcurrant. Very long, and very fluid.

This release is both a beauty, and not for everyone. It’s complex and fascinating and more than a little mesmerising. I can honestly say that I loved the time I spent with it. But it also has notes of truffle and heightened blackcurrant, and not everyone appreciates said flavours. We move on. We’re swept forward. The licorice, the leather, the lace of stem and tannin. It feels cool climate and warm climate at once, in a beautiful way. It rocks and it rolls. It will mature beautifully, perhaps even profoundly, its rolls of complex flavour gradually unfurled and unveiled.

Showstopping aromas – smoked meat, juicy blackberry fruit and dustings of black pepper. Wonderful aromatic range. Minty hints, but nothing dominates; there is perfect harmony and gentleness. This has the rare quality of the finest wines, where the flavour transcends description and you just have pure pleasure instead. Extraordinary.