Henschke Unveils 05/06 Museum Release in UK

South Australian producer Henschke is launching a limited edition collector’s box of two “exceptional” back vintages of its iconic Hill of Grace in the UK.

The ‘Museum Release’ of 2005 and 2006 vintages of Hill of Grace, the highly collectible wine made from the Henschkes’ four-hectare old-vine Shiraz site in the Eden Valley, is being released to compensate for the family’s decision not to release a 2011 of Hill of Grace owing to unsatisfactory vintage conditions.

While the latest vintage release of Hill of Grace, the 2010, is the highest-rated of the last decade, 2011 followed 1960, 1974 and 2000 as years in which no Hill of Grace was produced. Just one barrel of the wine was produced in 2003, while “extremely tiny” quantities are set to be released from 2013 and 2014, according to winemaker Stephen Henschke.

The 2005 and 2006 vintages of Hill of Grace have both rated by Stephen and wife Prue Henschke as “exceptional”. Aimed primarily at collectors, the two wines “tell the story of a unique single vineyard [in] two distinct seasons”. They come presented in a custom-made wooden box with a booklet of stories, history, tasting notes, technical information and foreword by James Halliday.

Although the wines are being sold primarily as a package, buyers will have the option of purchasing each vintage separately.