HENSCHKE Hill of Roses Shiraz 2022

Robert Parker Score: 98 points

Reviewer: Erin Larkin — March 2026 Week 426 Mar 2026

Drink 2026–2057

The 2022 Hill of Roses Shiraz is eminently red-fruited, and this really aligns with my previous perceptions of this wine. While the Hill of Roses comes from "young vines" (planted in 1989) from the Hill of Grace vineyard (the oldest plantings date back to the mid-1800s), each year the vines grow more, and the wine becomes darker, more powerful and more intense. However, it still retains its red-fruited heart throughout all the versions of climate and vintage. This is lighter, fresher and fluffier than the Hill of Grace Shiraz, and the tannins are "easier" somehow. The tannins of the Hill of Grace wine are dense—although fine—and feel more abundant. There will come a time when the vines reach a level of maturity that the expression of this wine begins to merge in character with the Hill of Grace. That will be an interesting day.

According to Henschke: "Hill of Roses is produced from a mass selection from the 'Grandfather Vines' in the Hill of Grace vineyard, planted as a nursery block in 1989 by Prue Henschke. The planting is known as the 'Post Office Block,' after the historic Parrot Hill Post Office ruins overlooking the vineyard. These vines were a mere 12 years old when the wine was first produced in 2001, and while the vines are too young to be considered for inclusion in Hill of Grace, the quality of fruit from this selection has produced a wine that warrants a separate bottling and limited release." This was not produced in 2003, 2011, 2014, 2019 and 2020. AUD RRP $495.