-
95
/ 100
Campbell Mattinson -
95
/ 100
Andrew Caillard MW
Red
Classification
Shiraz
Variety
2014
Vintage
750ml (Bottle)
Bottle Size
Australia
Country
South Australia, Multi Regional
Region
14.5%
Alcohol %
15 Plus Years
Cellaring
Scores
95 / 100"The stewed plums, the fresh boysenberry, the hint of leather, the general downplay of oak. It sits there, comfortable in its own skin, pretty much immune to the traffic of time. Move past the aromas with this release though and we see a fair bit if grunt; some meaty characters, a deep set of plums, almost a ferrous character, certainly peppercorns, florals. There’s a ramp of tannin here slightly outside the St Henri norm; it gives the wine a wee bit of strut. Just a wee bit. But we are certainly in excellent territory here. Drink : 2021 - 2031+"
- Campbell Mattinson
95 / 100
"Deep crimson. Lovely intense and fragrant wine with blackberry, cassis, graphite, chinotto herb garden aromas. Sinuous palate with deep blackberry, cassis fruits, fine looseknit chalky yet vigorous tannins, and beautiful waxy polish roasted walnut complexity. Finishes grainy firm with lovely fruit persistency and mineral length. A very fine St Henri with lovely concentration, sweet fruitiness and drive. Should develop more interest and character with time. Leave it for a while."
- Andrew Caillard MW
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