The Auswine Forum

Hill of Grace 1991

The decision was made not to decant the wine immediately, purely on the basis of age and varied reports of the vintage. The pouring of the first glass showed further development than anticipated. Deep and not completely vibrant burgundy red with some mahogany on the rim. The bouquet, at first somewhat dumb and unyielding, opened slowly in the glass with plum, cherry, vanilla and rose notes. Pure creamy silk, wonderous mouthfeel. The bouquet notes are recalled on the palate, quietly like ripples on a pond, harmoniously balanced by very subtle oak and a slight hint of chocolate. The palate lingers long before an elegant bow, beguiling a substantial presence.

Elegant and truly refined, with this vintage, the name of the wine seems entirely fitting.

Jakob

Excellent TN Jakob. I haven't tasted my allocation of the 91 yet but I am salivating at the prospect given how seriously exceptional the 90 was. My note is here. At their best, the balance is extraordinary like for the 86 and 90 and presumably the 91.

Very clever call Jakob!

cheers,

Danny, from your notes and other reports of the 1990 vintage, it is a very impressive wine, much more so than the '91. The extraordinary balance is certainly there with the '91, however it is not at all impacting. What made it impressive to me was the elegant, effortless, indeed graceful way in which the wine builds, lingers and finishes...all so very subtly. The '90 in contrast, from your notes, sounds opulently rich and powerful, true to vintage, whilst maintaining that same wonderful balance. I can't say that you will be disappointed with the '91, though it's unlikely to be a repeat performance. Now, I suppose I had best try to find a lonely bottle of the 1990 somewhere...just for comparisons sake, of course