Ranked #1 of 32 2015 Shiraz from Eden Valley
99/100
5 Stars
Huon Hooke
Deep ruby-red with a subtle tint of purple, but it’s not a colour to impress with its density or vividness. The bouquet is vegetal, dried-herbal (think sage and thyme) and evokes 'forest floor' scents, crushed raspberries and a mix of subtle brown spices (think clove and pepper). The wine is full-bodied but far from a blockbuster. The intensity and length are prodigious but it's the refinement of texture, the velvet softness of the tannins, the sublime texture, and quiet array of flavour complexities that seduce. It is already extraordinarily detailed and that's part of the genius of Hill of Grace wine. It's a gorgeous drink now, and will be for another 20 or 30 years. This is one of the greatest vintages of Hill of Grace.
Tasted: 30/04/2020
Drink: 2020 to 2050
99 Points James Halliday
Henschke says the '15 vintage provided stunning and elegant Eden Valley shiraz with extraordinary flavours, purity of fruit and acid balance. And indeed that's a fair description of this medium-bodied Hill of Grace. The colour is still bright, clear crimson-purple, and the beautifully balanced fruit flavours are vibrantly fresh. It would be easy to underestimate the likely longevity of this wine. One of the all-time greats.
James Halliday
Published 11 July 2021 Drink to 2045.
Source: James Halliday.
100 Points Misc
A significant vintage for Hill of Grace, as the last 2015 red to leave the Henschke cellar, and a wine that delivers on every ounce of its promise and then some. The nose is so complex and fragrant with trademark brown spices taking centre stage, amid light espresso, sage leaves, blackberries, cinnamon, anise, orange peel, ripe dark plums, pepper, gun smoke and a gentle, dried-rose edge. The palate has such impressive layers of fine tannin that make an instantly seamless, powerful and focused impression. It has an architectural style with clean lines that build and ascend out of the finish. Long, spiced blackberries and dark plums are extruded in formation with such finesse and power. The acidity holds a torch to the rich, ripe plums and blackberries, illuminating freshness at the finish. A wine that will develop in a very consistent manner and is likely to be at its best some 20 years from now. A collector’s dream. Vinolok closure.
100 Points, JamesSuckling.com (April 2020) Drink 2020 - 2040+.
JamesSuckling.com.