Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2017

98 Points Tony Love
96 Points Huon Hooke
96 Points James Halliday

St Henri is a time-honoured and alternative expression of shiraz, and an intriguing counterpoint to Grange. It is unusual amongst high quality Australian red wines as it does not rely on any new oak. Released for the first time by Penfolds in the early 1950s (first commercial vintage 1957), it gained a new lease of life in the 1990s as its quality and distinctive style became better understood. Proudly, a wine style that hasn’t succumbed to the dictates of fashion or commerce.

St Henri is rich and plush when young, gaining soft, earthy, mocha-like characters with age. It is matured in an assortment of old large vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character. Although a small proportion of cabernet may sneak into the blend, the focal point for St Henri remains shiraz.

“The cool and late vintage kissed the wine on both cheeks, making the classic maturation in 50yo vats doubly welcome. A glimpse of the future is the inaugural use of fruit from Port Lincoln joining the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Eden Valley in the blend. This has none of the hardness that sometimes gives an edge to St Henri, purity stepping in to its sculpted palate. Includes 3% cabernet sauvignon.” – 96 Points James Halliday

“The colour is impressively concentrated, dense and dark, the purple tinge staining the glass. The bouquet carries some apparent oaky nuances as well as very ripe blackberry fruit aromas. Concentrated dark berries, graphite, tar and tremendous depth and density of flavour that rolls on endlessly along the palate. Fresh acidity and ripely authoritative tannin grip to close. Hints of mocha and espresso coffee throughout. The texture is supple and smoothly rounded. No oak is apparent on palate. A powerful, lingering wine with great potential.” – 96 Points Huon Hooke

“And also with the 2017 St Henri Shiraz; my first two tasting note words on the day,  “Okay, Wow.” It is an increasingly relevant shiraz style and it has so much going on in its deep, dark fascinations. A  wine worth dwelling on. The question to pose here is at $135 (and $100 for the Bin 389) are these worth buying a half a dozen rather for less than you would spend on a bottle of Grange. I would say definitely. At 98 points in my book for the 2017 St Henri, it’s a yes from me.” – 98 Points Tony Love