-
94
/ 100
James Halliday -
93
/ 100
Mike Bennie
Red
Classification
Shiraz Blend
Variety
2008
Vintage
750ml (Bottle)
Bottle Size
Australia
Country
South Australia,
Region
14.0%
Alcohol %
15 Plus Years
Cellaring
Scores
94 / 100"Deep magenta, purple hue; a saturated black fruit wine lies in waiting with a veritable cornucopia of spice and liqueur soaked plums; the ample fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity provide light to the fruit shade; long, sweet-fruited and generous."
- James Halliday
93 / 100
"Deep, bright colour. Rich perfume of red berries, mocha, white pepper, ferns and olive tapenade. In the mouth a warm, richly flavoured red of concentration showing sticky red and black berry fruits with a long burr of oak reminiscent of sandalwood shavings. Some curranty complexity and lifted spice; a lick of briny acidity. Smooth and supple, fine, luscious and lengthy. Very elegant wine, not an ‘old school’ St Henri. Surprising verve for vintage. Drink in relative youth."
- Mike Bennie
Tasting Notes
Penfolds St Henri is a highly successful and alternative expression
of Shiraz and an intriguing counterpoint to Grange. It is unusual
among high quality Australian red wines as it does not rely on any
new oak. It was created in the early 1950s (first commercial
vintage 1957) and gained a new lease of life in the 1990s as its
quality and distinctive style became better understood.
"If I were forced to make a list of my Top Ten Australian Wines, then you’d find St Henri near the top. It goes into my cellar and down my neck fairly regularly, though perhaps not as often as I’d like." - Gary Walsh
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity
- Smooth
- Complex