St Henri Shiraz 2019 Penfolds

Latest Pro-tasting notes

13 tasting notes

97p by Pekka Nuikki / Editor of the Fine Wine Magazines and Champagne Magazine
98p by Ken Gargett
95p by Pekka Nuikki / Editor of the Fine Wine Magazines and Champagne Magazine
96p by Pekka Nuikki / Editor of the Fine Wine Magazines and Champagne Magazine
97p by James Suckling / BWW2024 Finalist
96p by Zae Lee Chiau/Sommelier
96p by Pekka Nuikki / Editor of the Fine Wine Magazines and Champagne Magazine
95p by Andrew Caillard MW / BWW2024 Finalist

Tasting note

color

Deep, Purple and Bright

ending

Long, Extensive and Lingering

flavors

Blackberry, Licorice, Vanilla, Voluptuous, Coffee and Leather

nose

Youthful, Fresh, Generous and Rich

recommend

Yes

taste

Warming, Medium tannin, Concentrated, Well-Integrated, Good texture, Full-bodied, Rich, Fresh and Silky tannins

Verdict

Exotic and Intelligent

Written Notes

St Henri Shiraz 2019 (A$135) – This wine always had a daunting task before it – overcoming comparisons with the previous release, the 2018. That wine sits alongside the very greatest St Henri’s we have seen. This might not quite scale those heights, but it comes very close. The counterpoint to Grange, it sees no new oak, only old and large format vats. 100% Shiraz, though occasionally a dollop of Cabernet may sneak in. A multi-regional style, fruit for this release has been sourced from McLaren Vale, Barossa, Padthaway, Wrattonbully and the ‘Peninsulas’ (the area around Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula, which is better known for large tuna and larger great whites). The first commercial vintage was the 1957.

Inky black in colour, the immediate impression on the nose is a dusty, earthy note, akin to ashes in a warm campfire. Coffee grinds, a core of cassis, mulberries, beef stock and licorice. There is real intensity here, a little more muscle on offer than is typical for St Henri. Black cherry notes continue on the palate and explode throughout the impressive length. Ever so silky tannins. This is a wonderful St Henri, a wine of poise, balance and intensity. Licorice and chocolate on the finish. A seriously good wine, it will certainly age well for twenty years. 98.

- Ken Gargett

Immediately spicy and complex, this has a rich blackberry and dark-plum nose, together with dark-chocolate and tarry, earthy elements. The palate has a very rich, fleshy feel with such ripe dark-plum, dark-chocolate, blackberry and mulberry flavors on offer. Generous, yet balanced. A South Australian blend of McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Padthaway, Wrattonbully and The Peninsulas. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

- James Suckling / BWW2024 Finalist

A charming shiraz, always an outlier among its peers. Here you will find no new oak influence, none required, the very essence of shiraz gently matured in large, seasoned vats. Close examination calls for a wine glass of generous proportions. Swirl, allow the aromatics to emerge slowly, gently. The dark fruits are first to show their credentials... blackberries and mulberries generously adorned with fresh whipped cream. The crunchier red fruits appear next, pomegranate and cranberry. Exotic, enticing. There is a suggestion of mild paprika. A hint of liquorice, toasted fennel seed, dried mint. Meaty aromas, Greek lamb rubbed with olive oil, oregano and sea salt twirling on the rotisserie. From the charcutier, savoury bresaola and prosciutto. Burnished vintage leather.

Structural descriptors don’t usually lead the charge for St Henri, but they are certainly faithful to the 2019 vintage.
A fine graphite core. The warmth and creaminess of Mexican sauce with the weight of wild game: venison loin, braised hare.
Eventually sweet custard flavours emerge, smooth and textural. Portuguese tart!
A suggestion of fine salinity aligns with mouth-watering acidity, cleansing.
As always with St Henri, restrained, no need to be showy.
The dark cacoa tannins are so fine they could be spun from silk.
Will age and evolve beautifully for decades.

- Peter Gago / Penfolds

Deep crimson. Intense black cherry, blackcurrant, roasted walnut, cacao, herb garden aromas with cedar notes. Well concentrated sweet black cherry, blackcurrant, hint strawberry fruits, some jammy notes. some dark chocolate chinotto notes, fine loose knit slinky textures, very good mid palate richness and inky density, Finishes claret firm with roasted walnut notes and attractive mineral length. More bottle age with bring all the elements together. Very expressive. McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Padthaway, Wrattonbully and emerging “The Peninsulas” zone of South Australia. 12 months in large, seasoned oak vats. Drink 2024 – 2042 14.5% alc 95 points

- Andrew Caillard MW / BWW2024 Finalist

Plum coconut energetically springs out of the glass, second inspection it is a much prettier wine with a hint of violet and cranberry. High acidity red plums and mulberries, raspberries and forest fruits. It is a little drying but acceptable with the fruit weight of the liquid. If you pick it out you can also find a little red oxide. Balanced and hits a few memory pockets if you have ever gone anywhere rustic in an old wooden cabin. My favourite drinking wine from the night.

- Dannika Wright / Langtons

Deeply dark and concentrated aromas. Black raspberry, mulberry, satsuma plum and dried fig. Subtle spice and licorice but in check. Oak integration is impressive. Palate is poised and balanced. Tending more red fruit that the nose would suggest, backed by hints of dark chocolate and graphite. Tannins are deft, and well handled. There is a lot to like here.

- Nick Barlow

Good looking normal size bottle, in an perfect condition and has by the neck level. Colour is purple, and looking bright, deep and youthful . On the nose it is youthful, intense, rich, generous and fresh. The taste is fresh, rich, warming, with medium tannin, with silky tannins, full-bodied, with concentrated,satin texture and well-integrated structure. On the palate it is layered and has perfumed, truffles, vanilla, tropical fruits, coffee, blackberry, licorice, leather, violet and viscous flavours. The finish is long, lingering and extensive. This wine is exotic, intelligent and impressive. Perfectly stored bottles are still very worthy and will last well for another 20-30 years and decant at least 2h before tasting. Good value for money. I do recommend.

- Zae Lee Chiau/Sommelier (Tasting note created by Tb's AI)

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