2022 Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz

Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz has deep historical roots, dating back over 180 years when Johann Christian Henschke settled in the Eden Valley. The renowned Hill of Grace vineyard, planted around 1860 by ancestor Nicolaus Stanitzki, features rich alluvial soil ideal for dry-grown vines. These ancient vines, now around 160 years old, along with Centenarians, Survivors, and Old Vines, form the backbone of this distinguished single-vineyard wine. The vineyard lies at an altitude of 400m, receiving an average rainfall of 520mm, and is named after a Silesian region known as Gnadenberg or ‘Hill of Grace’. Cyril Henschke first produced a single-vineyard Shiraz from these vines in 1958, using traditional methods, and the vineyard's historic significance continues to be celebrated.

Other Reviews...
May well be the prettiest Hill of Grace yet released. May also be the best, and that’s saying something. I thought 2021 was the greatest yet, then came 2022. Doesn’t have the raw power and luxurious opulence of the ’21, yet this might be a case of less is more. The depth and intensity of fruit that comes from vines that were planted in the 1860s is undeniable, but it’s all harnessed and focused into an effortless, long, and most graceful structure. There’s a distinct combination of black olive and bay leaf with a lift of sage bush. The palate is immensely powerful and intense with a focused concentration of fruit. As it opens up, other sweet fruit characters emerge. There’s a little seaweed and subtle fish oil-like characters. Perfumed and floral with blackberry and blueberry notes. It’s still relatively tight with fine-grained tannins. There is almost no new oak in the 100% seasoned French oak hogsheads, where it spent 20 months. Drink 2026-2071.
99+ points
Ray Jordan - Wine Pilot

Arriving in the wake of the esteemed 2021 vintage, the 2022 Hill of Grace is another proud, forthright wine that deserves the highest praise. Familiar touchstones are in place; a pleasing herbal lift of wild sage adding vital freshness to a rich berry aroma piqued with a pinch of lively Chinese five-spice. Fine-grained tannins promote a velvety texture that slides through a plush and extensively long middle-palate laced with intense blackberry. It drives with power and purpose into a deep, focused back-palate. The structure supports countless layers of complexity that show curious facets and subtle nuances (rich red earth, truffle, violets, cassis, wlld raspberry) and insists that you keep looking longer and longer. Drink 2028-2060.
98 points
David Sly - Decanter

Australia's finest and most famous single-site shiraz. Incredible ancestor vines of 160 years of age are the heart of the wine, with additions of centenarian (100-plus years), survivor (70-plus years) and old-vine (35-plus years) shiraz; matured in seasoned French oak for 20 months. It's the aromatic detail, texture and elegance that immediately stands out with the Hill of Grace. Pure satsuma plum, blackberry and black cherry fruits with hints of bay leaf, mace, sage, Chinese five-spice, panforte, cedar, tapenade, black pepper, pan juices, graphite, dried meats and purple floral tones. The amplitude of this wine always amazes me. Everything just resonates perfectly; fruit, tannin and acidity are all in harmony and the arc across the palate is perfectly timed. Stunning. Drink 2026-2066.
98 points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion

“Hill of Grace is produced from pre-phylloxera (vine) material brought from Europe in the mid-1800s. The original vines were planted around 1860 by ancestor Nicolaus Stanitzki, in rich alluvial soil in a shallow fertile valley just north-west of the Henschke family winery.” 2022 was a modest crop; production is just over half of what was produced from 2021.
Magical wine. Intense, boysenberry and saturated plums, sweet spice and peppercorns, a long swagger of almost-grainy tannin, a lot of muscle and flex but a lot of perfume and ripe/sweet berry flavour too. The fruit here, almost musky, pushes deep and long through the palate, a parade of flavours draped and flying in its wake. This will cellar for decades. This is a ripper. It’s bold and fresh and aromatic and screen-printed with tannin. I can barely imagine a more perfect Hill of Grace Shiraz. Drink 2030 - 2045+.
97 points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

The 2022 Hill of Grace Shiraz leads with dark fruit and an abundance of exotic spice to match. The tannins are profuse here, quite distinct from the Hill of Roses tasted alongside. Star anise, cloves, cinnamon (cassia), fennel seeds and Sichuan pepper weave in and out of the blackberry, blueberry, crushed quartz/ferrous undertones. There's a sweet rolling-tobacco character that is highly attractive and lingers through the finish. I love the 2022 vintage. It is fresh and detailed. It may forever live in the shadow of the great 2021 vintage, but not for me—I believe firmly this is a sleeper vintage and will reveal its longevity given time. The allure of it now is not in question, either. Drink 2026-2072.
99 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2022 Shiraz Hill of Grace is seductive and inviting but has the integrity and structure to age beautifully. It opens with fragrances of wood smoke, dried herbs and rubbed sage against a backdrop of fleshy blackberry and subtle toasted spices. A wall of tannin on the entry slowly breaks down to reveal complex, savoury layers of flavour. The finish is lengthy and sustained but tight. Perfect tension and structure make this a great vintage for Hill of Grace. Drink 2045-2070.
98 points
Angus Hughson - Vinous