Henschke - Hill of Grace Shiraz - 1998

Medium to full purple-red; a clean and rich array of black berries, spice, licorice and compatible oak, then a palate with abundant dark berry and bitter chocolate flavour, with controlled tannins and oak. Has great length and great balance; fully reflects the outstanding vintage, and has an indefinite life in front of it if well-cellared. 96 Points James Halliday, The Halliday Wine Companion Tasted 2005. Still quite purple and youthful-looking. Intense, ripe, briary nose with some notes of a decongestant. Quite high-toned with decided lift. A real baby with extraordinary amounts of tannin tucked in beneath satin-smooth overlay of carefully vinified fruit. Very fine tannins and a very dry finish. 18.5/20 Points Jancis Robinson, Jancisrobinson.com Tasted 2013. Dark crimson. Healthy looking. Minty note for the first time. Very direct nose. Opulent fruit. Rich. Exotic ladies’-handbags notes. Broad and attention grabbing. Mellow start but then the framework becomes quite obvious. Ambitious. Sore-throat wine. 19/20 Points Jancis Robinson, Jancisrobinson.com