x
  • Country ranking ?

    98
  • Producer ranking ?

    59
  • Decanting time

    4h
  • When to drink

    2020-2035
  • Food Pairing

    Lamb

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The Story

St Henri is a time-honoured 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. 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 as it ages. It is matured in old, 1460 litre vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character. Although a small proportion of Cabernet is sometimes used to improve structure, the focal point for St Henri remains Shiraz. 

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Vintage 2012

Lower-than-average yields in Australia, as across much of Europe. This was blamed on high winds, drought and low fruitfulness resulting from the poor 2011 vintage. Quality, however, was much better than in the exceptionally damp 2011, with South Australia avoiding some of the weather extremes experienced by other states. Strong varietal typicality is a commonly cited feature of the 2012 crop.

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Latest Pro-tasting notes

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Written Notes

Has a whisk of 3% cabernet to accompany the shiraz, the grapes from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Robe and the Clare Valley. In the manner of all St Henris, matured for 13 months in 50yo oak vats (1460l). This is an exercise on a chequer board of savoury/smoky black fruits with firm, but polished, tannins. A great St Henri that will come into its own in a bare minimum of 10 years, and live long thereafter.

  • 96p

Most areas of South Australia were impacted by lower than average rainfall across the winter period. This resulted in early bud break in some areas and ideal stress throughout spring owering. Healthy and welcome spring rain ensued, merging with a mild summer with just a few short periods of heat. Mild daytime temperatures and cool evenings were observed across the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, allowing for impressive avour development without in ated baumés. Typically cooler regions (e.g. Adelaide Hills and maritime Robe) developed evenly and with concentration over a long ripening season. Balanced canopies and crops provided even development throughout veraison across all South Australian regions. Bursts of warmth and dry conditions continued throughout harvest allowing fruit to be picked in optimal condition and rainfall marked the end of vintage. Smaller berry and bunch sizes were noticeable in most regions. This, coupled with favourable weather conditions, induced great results for traditional quality markers – colour, tannin pro le, fruit concentration and avour depth.

Deep crimson red

At once Penfolds, at once and reassuringly an authentic, warmingly ‘old-style’ St Henri. A radiant ‘redness’ – an orb of red-currants, red liquorice and rhubarb.
Earthy, gamey – cured meats, glazed ham, cold pan juices...scents charmingly emitted.

Solid.
Aromatics conveyed/shared to palate – juniper, cinnamon, nutmeg, dry herbs. White milk chocolate, mocha and praline St Henri markers tussled to the fore. Integrated, ne and delicate tannins certainly not intimidated by any brash oak. Poised and balanced.

2012 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 97% Shiraz, 3% Cabernet, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Robe, Clare Valley First Vintage 1957 “Plump, sweet, savoury, balanced, spiced, long… this has rhubarb, raspberry, pink peppercorns, clove, brioche and pomegranate. Hints of other spices… juniper and nutmeg, lovely clarity of fruit. Elegant. It builds. Classy and intense. The nose is open and expressive which follows on to the palate. This is charming and refined. A gorgeous wine. This wine spends 13 months in 50+ year old large oak vats (1500L) “…the accountants don’t like the 50+ year bit, we buy them now and then don’t use them!” (S. Lienert), so the effect of the oak on the wine is to build texture and spice, rather than body and tannin structure. It is intricate and layered, the fruit is pure and the older oak lends it a modern elegance that I missed in the other reds of this release. This is the bargain of the Penfolds red range without a doubt. Drinking now or anytime into the 40’s and 50’s. 94 points”
  • 94p
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Information

Origin

Magill, South Australia

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