TN: Mostly Penfolds

[Ozzie W]

By the way, regardless of vintage yields, the one thing not yet resolved regarding the Henschke statement that "grapes from the Hill of Grace vineyard have never made their way into another wine" is what happens to the young vine/replanted shiraz fruit in the HoG vineyard...

It goes into the Hill of Roses label.

[JamieBahrain]

Beautiful wine HofR.

A world class vinous experience I've recommended before is to try HofR side by side with HofG. The lineage stands out clearly.

I've seen this a few times at cellar door on personal tour and have done it in a HofG vertical.

[Mahmoud Ali]

By the way, regardless of vintage yields, the one thing not yet resolved regarding the Henschke statement that "grapes from the Hill of Grace vineyard have never made their way into another wine" is what happens to the young vine/replanted shiraz fruit in the HoG vineyard...

It goes into the Hill of Roses label.

Well noted Ozzie, the rest of us overlooked that. So Henschke is incorrect in their statement to Jamie. All that's left is to find out what happens to the other varietals.

[JamieBahrain]

I think Hill of Roses and Hill of Peace well known. It’s where declassified fruit may end up ? And I still suspect I was told by a source ( incorrect according to Henschke ) that a small amount of declassified fruit went into 2000 Mt Ed.

[Mahmoud Ali]

What, there is a Hill of Peace? I am so out of touch - but then again don't see much of Henschke in my area.

Nothing to do with Henschke but wasn't there a Hill of Gold wine- maybe Mudgee?

[sjw_11]

Nothing to do with Henschke but wasn't there a Hill of Gold wine- maybe Mudgee?

Yes, but I don't think it is still made? Haven't seen one since the mid-2000s. If not, wonder where the fruit goes now. I remember being quite impressed by one of them

[Mahmoud Ali]

I don't think it was Rosemount since their Mudgee wine was called 'Mountain Blue' if I recall correctly, and I don't even know if that is still around anymore.

Edit: I just checked and indeed the Hill of Gold is a Rosemount wine, likely a commercial bottling since it came in shiraz, cabernet, merlot, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and riesling.

[Ian S]

Nothing to do with Henschke but wasn't there a Hill of Gold wine- maybe Mudgee?

Yes, but I don't think it is still made? Haven't seen one since the mid-2000s. If not, wonder where the fruit goes now. I remember being quite impressed by one of them

Yes Hill of Gold was Rosemount, IIRC not a disimilar price to their Tradition & Mountain Blue (so ~ double the price of their basic bottlings). They successfully defended (legally) their use of that label against Henschke, who felt it too close to Hill of Grace.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Ian,

I recall seeing the Hill of Gold wines in Australia back in the early 2000s and they were priced higher than their basic bottlings but much lower than their Balmoral and Mountain Blue which were their iconic reds along with the Roxborough Chardonnay. Good on you to remember the litigation between Henschke and Rosemount, something I vaguely recall now that you mention it.

[phillisc]

Nothing to do with Henschke but wasn't there a Hill of Gold wine- maybe Mudgee?

Yes, but I don't think it is still made? Haven't seen one since the mid-2000s. If not, wonder where the fruit goes now. I remember being quite impressed by one of them

Yes Hill of Gold was Rosemount, IIRC not a disimilar price to their Tradition & Mountain Blue (so ~ double the price of their basic bottlings). They successfully defended (legally) their use of that label against Henschke, who felt it too close to Hill of Grace.

Yes what a lawyers picnic that was...how one (or anyone who remotely knows anything about wine) could confuse a boutique family company in the Barossa with a multinational making wines in Mudgee!!??
Cheers Craig