Henschke Hill of Grace A Definitive Tasting

[Dav1dZ]

@Jamie Pettigrew

Brett issues are argued to be 1997-2000. Something certainly happened with 1998 and storage and some bottles can be pristine whilst others, well, I returned all mine to the winery and was graciously exchanged for a current vintage.

The one questionable brett vintage in my line up being the 1999 Hill of Grace and I must say, it’s brett levels were not detracting to the group and it presented beautifully though there was a wrestle.
Some Australian commentators regard 1996 Henschke as being DMS afflicted though I don’t see the issue.

Personally, I don’t think your vintages ( 95 & 96 ) have a brett problem. Though with poor storage who knows if light levels of brett bloom toward the intolerable levels? I have harped on that these wines need good storage to realize their potential and I never buy them from the secondary market in Australia.

Sure. But brett doesn’t bloom in middling storage unless the bottle is primed for that at the winery. It’s a shame the winemaking isn’t cleaner.

[Jamie_Pettigrew]

I’m not sure your vintages ( 95 & 96 ) are brett affected. Haven’t noted such comments amongst our domestic ranks which are dominated by brett nazis.

The tasting demonstrated an incredible purity and I’d dispute your last sentence except in the case of 1997-2000 and I have mentioned many a time, these wines don’t do well when baked- and at 500 USD + per bottle now I’d expect more careful logistics than may have been the case in the 90’s !