Our aim is to produce only premium fruit and this has been achieved.
A proportion of the fruit is supplied to McWilliams Wines and the Estate won the McWilliams inaugural Grower of the Year Award for 2004. The remaining fruit is made and bottled by Winemaker Gary Mills at the Hill Paddock Winery on the estate, under the Gracedale Hills label.
The fruit is hand picked, and de-stemmed into open stainless steel Fermenters as whole berries.
Fermentation is completed in one & two year old French Barriques and given a minimum of 15 months in the barrels.
The wine is then stored to recover from bottle shock and is now released ready for your enjoyment.
The cellaring potential is up to 5 years.
Current Reviews
Gracedale Hills Estate awarded 4 stars in The James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2010. "A very good producer of wines with class and character."
A graciously complex wine that makes its point in a low-alcohol context, grapefruit and nectarine aromas and flavours uppermost, barrel ferment underneath.
Screwcap
13 alcohol Rating 92 (Highly Recommended-Wines of great quality, style and character, worthy of a place in any cellar)
Cellar to 2014
Gracedale Hills Estate awarded 4 stars in the James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2009 "A very good producer of wines with class and character."
Some funky barrel ferment aromas and flavours on a fairly lean palate.
Screwcap
12.6 Alcohol Rating 87 (Recommended. Wines of above-average quality, fault-free, and with clear varietal expression).
Cellar to 2010
Extract reproduced from the "James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2009"
Gracedale Hills Estate awarded 4 & 1/2 stars in the James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008. Excellent producer of very high quality wines.
This is real wine: hand-picked pinot noir, barrel-fermented with wild yeast and lees-stirred;
vivid colour not withstanding the barrel ferment; very stylish, more into light-bodied pinot than rose` perhaps; perfect balance;
250 cases made
Screwcap
12.5 alcohol Rating 92 (Highly Recommended-Wines of great quality, style and character, worthy of a place in any cellar)
Extract reproduced from the "James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008"
Hill Paddock Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2005 (now sold out)
Rated 4 & 1/2 wine glasses
Attractive wine; ripe melon and white peach fruit; the winemaker inputs obvious (wild yeast barrel ferment. New and old French Oak) but not excessive; the wine does finish fractionally short.
Screwcap
12.8 Alchohol Rating 90 (Highly Recommended-Wines of great quality, style and character, worthy of a place in any cellar)
Cellar to 2013
Extract reproduced from The James Halliday Wine Companion 2008
Light to medium-bodied, with spicy peppery overtones to the black and red cherry fruits; elegant and balanced, still building mid-palate weight.
Cork
13.5 Alcohol Rating 90 (Highly Recommended-Wines of great quality, style and character, worthy of a place in any cellar)
Cellar to 2012
Extract reproduced from the "James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008"
Past Reviews
Gracedale Hills Estate awarded 4 stars in the James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2007 "Very good producer of wines with class and character."
Hill Paddock Yarra Valley Shiraz 2004 (now sold out)
Rated 5 wine glasses
Fine balance medium-bodied display of spicy, black cherry, plum and blackberry fruit, showing the Yarra Valley style to best advantage; good acidity.
Cork
13.5 Alchohol Rating 94 (Oustanding- Wines of the highest quality, usually with a distinguished pedigree)
Cellar to 2015
Extract reproduced from The James Halliday Wine Companion 2007
Gracedale Hills Estate awarded 4 & 1/2 stars in the James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2006 "Excellent producer of very high quality wines"
Hill Paddock Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2003 (now sold out)
Rated 5 wine glasses
Shows the best side of wild yeast fermentation, giving a complex but fine, minerally cast to the fruit mouth feel; long, clean, classy finish, excellent French Oak use.
Cork Rating 94 (Oustanding- Wines of the highest quality, usually with a distinguished pedigree)
Cellar to 2008 Extract reproduced from the James Halliday Australia Wine Companion 2006
Explanation of Wine Ratings
94-100 (5 wine glasses)Outstanding. Wines of the highest quality, usually with a distinguished Pedigreee.
90-93 (4 1/2 wine glasses)Highly recommended. Wines of great quality, style and character, worthy of a place in any cellar.
87-89 (4 wine glasses)Recommended. Wines of above-average quality, fault-free, and with clear varietal expression.
The remaining fruit is made and bottled by Winemaker Gary Mills at the Hill Paddock Winery on the estate, under the Gracedale Hills label. 
