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Making remarkable wines since 1844.
Making remarkable wines
since 1844.
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2018 St Henri Shiraz

2018 St Henri Shiraz

The Penfolds Collection

2018 St Henri Shiraz

St Henri is a time-honoured and alternative expression of shiraz, and an intriguing counterpoint to Grange. It is unusual amongst high quality Australian red wines as it does not rely on any new oak. Released for the first time by Penfolds in the early 1950s (first commercial vintage 1957), it 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 with age. It is matured in an assortment of old large vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character. Although a small proportion of cabernet may sneak into the blend, the focal point for St Henri remains shiraz.

Varietal
Shiraz
Shiraz
Vintage
2018
2018
Volume
750mL
750mL
Awards
99 Points - Andrew Caillard MW
99 Points - Ken Gargett - World of Fine Wine Magazine
99 Points - Nick Stock, JamesSuckling.com
97 Points - James Halliday
97 Points - Huon Hooke
2018 Penfolds St Henri
2018 St Henri Shiraz
$150.00
Price
$150.00
Log in for exclusive benefits
$1,800.00
Price
$1,800.00
Log in for exclusive benefits
Log in for exclusive benefits

This wine is imported from Australia. State import laws allow us to ship this wine to the following states: AK, CA, DC, FL, MA, MN, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR, SC, TN and WV.

A wine that can proudly grace any dinner table, in any establishment, anywhere.

–Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker

2018 Penfolds St Henri
The Penfolds Collection

2018 St Henri Shiraz

St Henri is a time-honoured and alternative expression of shiraz, and an intriguing counterpoint to Grange. It is unusual amongst high quality Australian red wines as it does not rely on any new oak. Released for the first time by Penfolds in the early 1950s (first commercial vintage 1957), it 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 with age. It is matured in an assortment of old large vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character. Although a small proportion of cabernet may sneak into the blend, the focal point for St Henri remains shiraz.

2018 St Henri Shiraz
$150.00
Price
$150.00
Log in for exclusive benefits
$1,800.00
Price
$1,800.00
Log in for exclusive benefits
Log in for exclusive benefits

This wine is imported from Australia. State import laws allow us to ship this wine to the following states: AK, CA, DC, FL, MA, MN, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR, SC, TN and WV.

Varietal
Shiraz
Shiraz
Vintage
2018
2018
Volume
750mL
750mL
Awards
99 Points - Andrew Caillard MW
99 Points - Ken Gargett - World of Fine Wine Magazine
99 Points - Nick Stock, JamesSuckling.com
97 Points - James Halliday
97 Points - Huon Hooke

Taste Description

Taste Description

2018 St Henri Shiraz

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Colour

Deep inky blood-red.

Nose

The veil long clasped by St Henri is aromatically lifted. A 2018 St Henri cork is extracted revealing:

Clinically: The elution of flinty pencil and cordite.

Appetisingly: Warmed black olive - mustardy spiced wild rocket, haloumi.

Savoury: Scents of a parsley salad, eggplant, capers.

Exotically: Freshly sliced fig and cut-rhubarb laced with spices and nuts.

Palate

Stone fruits and charcuterie savouries abound.

Fresh acidity abetted by the cut-rhubarb noted aromatically above, and liquorice root.

Toasted pumpkin seed flavours, tannin-dry yet not puckering.

Mouth-watering, finely etched tannins ‘mist up’ the palate spectrum – a tactile fog!

Oak – where art thou?

Vintage conditions

2018 Vintage

Relatively dry conditions coupled with near long-term winter and spring temperatures indicated an early start to the growing season. However, a spell of cold weather in November slowed vine phenology. Warm and sunny weather prevailed throughout most of spring, providing optimal conditions for flowering and fruit-set. The Barossa Valley experienced 22 days of temperature greater than 35°C in summer, while McLaren Vale experienced 17 days greater than 35°C. This warm and dry pattern continued in Clare Valley throughout the growing season with only one significant rain event (30mm) in early December. Robe and Padthaway also had warm, dry growing seasons by regional standards. Late flowering and the delayed onset of veraison throughout the South-East slowed harvest by a few weeks. Our grower vineyard in Port Lincoln enjoyed a near perfect season, with the cool maritime breezes providing optimal conditions for ripening. The warm, dry weather carried into autumn, setting up an Indian summer with favourable conditions for ripening grapes. A fine vintage for all Penfolds South Australian growing regions.

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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