The Auswine Forum

I was a large buyer of Henschke back in the days when it was possible to buy six packs of Hill of Grace!

Mt.Edelstone was the label I bought in quantity until about the 93/94 vintage when the price started to escalate and in my opinion the wines didn't seem to have the same intensity. Ibought a six pack of the 1996 in hope more than anything but it's just not showing as well as it should given the price point.

Question - have Mt.Edelstones become more elegant since then or is it that other wines have become more intense and therefore Mt.Edelstone looks lighter?

Even from the great vintages - I thought the 1996 was a moderate effort and the 1998 wasn't up to speed with it's competitors.

I'd be very interested to hear others comments.

Thanks - Steve

Same here 707,

I've stopped buying for awhile. The best wines I had was fr their '94 vintage - the trio... Mt.E, Cyril & HoG all sublime.
Can't comment on their recent quality becos Cyril & HoG needed at least 10yrs to showed it's best.
Prices has crept up quite a fair bit n others has improved leaps n bounds. Now Henscke is relying on Tradition & Romance(single Vy) to move their wines.
Who need the "Hill of Roses" where u can get a Hutton Vale Shiraz for 1/3 the price?

Rgds,

Hi Steve,

Long time no speak, work must still be getting in the way of your drinking activity.

Agree with most of your feelings on Mount Edelstone in particular but with one exception. The 96 has turned into a stunner.

Steve,

Welcome back, we need some more RB's around here

I stopped buying Henschke about the same time you indicated, when the prices took a steep jump for no increase in quality. I've tried the odd bottle since, never been impressed enough to buy.

Definitely off my buying list and I'm very much with you in supporting the good small wineries, my purchases from the majors have dropped right off over the last 5 years.

Hi Steve

I still buy Henschke. Johann's Garden a high quality wine that is magical after only a few years in the cellar. The 98 my case point. Price creep has affected this wine too!

I remember fondy the annual HofG 6 pack purchase. Still have the silver six pack boxes in the cellar!

On Mt Ed I am not so harsh.

94-Classic

95- Excellent considering the vintage. Not a long termer but very nice use of oak.

96- Excellent. But price now a factor. I recall buying 2X 94 Rockford's BP plus a Dry Country Grenache per MtEd.

97- Tough vintage and an OK wine. The single vineyard!

98-Liked a lot. Approachable, drinking well, complex but the test of time is of great interest to the detractors of the style, aswell as the supporters.

99- I think it will be do OK

00 Haven't tried but full of Grace surely!

01 and 02 will be the litmus test for me regarding MtEd. Where it is going etc. I would prefer it returns to the cellaring style of the 80's and early 90's. Especially considering the miniscule yields and world wide demand of HofG. Henschke needs another cellaring style shiraz!

One thing for sure, if the quality of 94 reproduced in 01/02 MtEd will go up in price again!