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Making remarkable wines since 1844.
Making remarkable wines
since 1844.
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2019 St Henri Shiraz

2019 St Henri Shiraz

The Penfolds Collection

2019 St Henri Shiraz

Varietal
Shiraz
Shiraz
Vintage
2019
2019
Volume
750mL
750mL
Awards
98 Points - Tony Love
19+/20 Points - Matthew Jukes
97 Points - Nick Stock, JamesSuckling.com
96+ Points - Erin Larkin, Robert Parkers Wine Advocate
96 Points - David Sly, Decanter Magazine
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“Hard to believe that St Henri’s story is relevant across seven decades, given its humility.”
- Steph Dutton, Penfolds Senior Winemaker

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The Penfolds Collection

2019 St Henri Shiraz

Varietal
Shiraz
Shiraz
Vintage
2019
2019
Volume
750mL
750mL
Awards
98 Points - Tony Love
19+/20 Points - Matthew Jukes
97 Points - Nick Stock, JamesSuckling.com
96+ Points - Erin Larkin, Robert Parkers Wine Advocate
96 Points - David Sly, Decanter Magazine

Taste Description

Taste Description

2019 St Henri Shiraz

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Colour

Plum red with a crimson rim.

Nose

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.

Palate

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.

Vintage conditions

2019 Vintage

McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley recorded well below long-term average winter rainfall, while the vineyards in the South-East growing districts enjoyed above-average winter rainfall. September temperatures were cool with little rainfall, resulting in some isolated frost events. Summer was generally hot, with high temperatures delaying veraison. The Barossa Valley experienced 31 days of temperatures exceeding 35°C while McLaren Vale experienced 25 days (December to March). Irrigation was crucial to keep vines in good health. The proximity of the Southern Ocean played an important role in moderating temperatures in Wrattonbully and Padthaway, allowing for a high-quality harvest, albeit with smaller yields than average. Although yields were down in all regions, the quality was outstanding with shiraz showing excellent colours, firm tannin profiles and intense flavours.

wine analysis
Alc/Vol: 14.5%
Alc/Vol: 14.5%

The Story of St Henri

The first vintage of St Henri – then Auldana Cellars St Henri Claret – was produced in 1888, beginning one of the most famous and enduring names in Australian wine. It was likely named after Auldana’s winemaker Léon Edmond Mazure’s son Henri or his wife, Philomine Henriette. The wine immediately enjoyed success, winning the Championship Cup for Best Claret in Australia at the Adelaide Wine Show in 1890 and then again as a joint winner in 1891. The St Henri label disappeared somewhere around the beginning of World War 1. It was revived by Senior Red Winemaker John Davoren at Penfolds in 1953 to celebrate the centenary of Auldana Cellars. The 1957 vintage is officially recognised as the first St Henri commercial release under the Penfolds name. It gained a new lease of life in the 1990s as its quality and distinctive style became better understood.

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