External search
Google (images)
Wine Advocate
Wine Spectator
Burghound
Wine-Searcher
Vintages
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
Show more
From this producer
Show all wines
All tasting notes
|
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.5 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 126 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Philip67 on 4/30/2023 & rated 96 points: Amazing wine! Just delicious. Not a trace of new oak of course in this wine, though they do age it in old oak vats. Despite the lack of new oak this has loafs of substance, very primary fruit driven - rich blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, damson. There is also lots of black pepper, along with black olive tapenade and balsamic. Long and complex. Drinking now and will last forever. (1602 views) | | | Tasted by DaneM on 3/19/2023: Beautiful at this stage, excellent structure, improves with 2-3 hours of air. (1513 views) | | | Tasted by peter.mancell@mfg.com.au on 10/21/2022 & rated 94 points: Excellent Shiraz example.
Big dark fruit and robust enjoyable texture. (2102 views) | | | Tasted by edjBoca on 7/24/2022 & rated 93 points: This took a ton of time to drink well. This needs 3-5 years before opening again. (2284 views) | | | Tasted by burgburgburg on 5/14/2022 & rated 89 points: PnP. A good shiraz but nothing spectacular. (2596 views) | | | Tasted by ajefferyhbd@gmail.com on 3/21/2022 & rated 96 points: Excellent, will not get better. (2039 views) | | | Tasted by jeffbrod on 12/25/2021 & rated 94 points: Yep. Xmas day with Eye Fillet with Black Bean sauce, amongst other.
Still going but I'd drink now. 1 left. (2121 views) | | | Tasted by For The Love of Loosen on 12/17/2021 & rated 91 points: I understand the St Henri story: high quality fruit in large format old oak. The yin to Grange’s yang. Certainly elegant. Soft skin tannins and acid, perhaps better appreciated after our steaks. Respectfully I did wonder what this may have looked like with just a little more structure. 14.5% ABV. Lovely unadulterated fruit. 91+. (1855 views) | | | Tasted by peter.mancell@mfg.com.au on 12/7/2021 & rated 92 points: Big dark fruit, lingering chewy tannins but not excessively dry. Nice mouth coating texture. (1954 views) | | | Tasted by robertek on 10/23/2021 & rated 92 points: Time to drink up. (1820 views) | | | Tasted by SadEdjo on 9/11/2021 & rated 91 points: Screw cap. Surprisingly uncomplicated. Sweet red fruit, soft tannins. Thankfully low on the lumber. But dubious QPR (2021 views) | | | Tasted by mflesh on 5/24/2021: Enjoyed from 375. Tonight was the night. I've probably been holding on to this for 7 or 8 years. Black plums and dates. Mature blackberry and mulling spices. Nose is quite "roasted" in character and really showed no sign of decline. These are really nice around 15 yrs old but this one has some accelerated age from the half bottle. Finished still with a surprising amount of young oak tannin. Still could have gone another 5-10 years easily. (2183 views) | | | Tasted by mphatic on 3/12/2021: Screwcap, 14.5% alc. Opaque, inky red-black.
A complex yet delicate nose of berry jam, star anise, some VA, chocolate, dill, soy sauce, and tobacco.
Quite a refined and somewhat soft palate, yet it has sneaky underlying depth and concentration; building in presence over time. Some oak influence comes through, surprisingly. Excellent length. Feels semi mature on the palate, though the nose is still relatively youthful.
Opinion: Possibly in between phases at the moment. So try next bottle in 3 years and assess from there. More expressive and youthful on day 2, without a long decant. (1612 views) | | | Tasted by Arch57 on 1/30/2021 & rated 91 points: I scored 6 of these for the ridiculous price of $29.99 many years ago and it’s been awhile since I opened one. Still youthful feeling, deep crimson color. Not very complex but had a nice aromatic nose with some floral notes. I was getting a dill flavor on the palate, first time I experienced that in a wine! Overall a pleasure to drink. (2378 views) | | | Tasted by lukemalias@outlook.com on 10/2/2020 & rated 95 points: just lovely (2393 views) | | | Tasted by markcic on 8/28/2020 & rated 91 points: A very enjoyable wine. We opened and decanted through a vinturi for two hours. Dark fruit on the nose. The palate was dark plums, tobacco and hints of nutmeg. The finish was moderate to long. This wine has years of life ahead of it. As an extra added attraction it proves my good friend Harry wrong (and I love to prove him wrong) as he believes that any bottle of wine with a screw cap can't be good. Sadly my only bottle (2469 views) | | | Tasted by "Rhône Rider" on 2/13/2020 & rated 95 points: 60 år gamle fat. Forførende. Parfyme, mineraler, tobakk, rødbær på nese. Samme i munn pkuss hvit pepper, viser mange lag. Masse svart stein og mint i avslutningen. Deilig balanse, høy syre og svært lang. Superb! 94-95 (2493 views) | | | Tasted by Tige on 11/30/2019 & rated 92 points: Vraiment délicieux! Très riche, belle longueur tout en fruits mûrs. P'tite chaleur d'alcool qui ce serait probablement estompée si nous avions pu lui laisser plus de temps en carafe. Un des dégustateurs notait une pointe mentholée aucunement déplaisante et assez typique de ce terroir. Bel équilibre des tannins entre souplesse et présence. La digestion du bois est amorcée et il en reste encore. Potentiel de progresser encore! (3101 views) | | | Tasted by maxima on 3/24/2019 & rated 89 points: Bu avec mon fameux Poulet Chasseur Toscan à la Gloria
aux champignons Forrestiers (Morilles, trompettes, Chanterelle et pleurottes)...accord réussi!
Nez puissant sur la menthe, le girofle, les fruits noir et le bois.
En bouche, corsé et ample, le bois est présent et les fruits
sont denses, prunes et mures avec du poivre et de l`anis.
Les tanins sont charnus et la finale longue avec une
pointe de chauffe.
Pas mal moins civilisé que celles avec bouchon de liège...malheureusement! (4313 views) | | | Tasted by EvanRose on 3/14/2019 & rated 93 points: I am broken hearted and overjoyed upon the downing of my last bottle of this lucious Shiraz. I served a spicy lamb(Australian lamb of course) and the earthy textured and voluptuous fruit complemented the spiciest of the hot paprika. (3467 views) | | | Tasted by maxima on 11/7/2018 flawed bottle: Bouchonnée! (4044 views) | | | Tasted by EvanRose on 11/6/2018 & rated 94 points: Forest floor and oak on the nose, cassis and licorice,smooth tannins and some pepper and heat on the back end. Medium finish (3570 views) | | | Tasted by thebatcavewines on 10/31/2018 & rated 95 points: Breathed for 2 hours which is standard for me. Lovely dusty oak & blackberry aroma's. Very smooth with more than a hint of plum & supple berry fruits. Soft tannin's accompanied by a hint of butterscotch. Very drinkable now but i feel depending on people's personal taste this has a good 10 years or more left in it. (3263 views) | | | Tasted by stayhappy21 on 10/26/2018 & rated 94 points: Drank this at a wine dinner at Chao Shan Cuisine last night with a group of wine drinkers. Theme of the evening: Australia Shiraz.
Purple in colour with an incredible balance of elements. Rich, with a creamy texture, with coffee, dark chocolate, nuts and berry notes showing nicely. Restrained energy in a harmonious state, delivering pleasure and satisfaction to the drinker. (2564 views) | | | Tasted by red.red.vino on 12/26/2017 & rated 91 points: In the decanter for 2 hours prior to drinking, whereas it probably needed 3 hours for the little bit of heat to fade. A very full, dark, dense and plummy wine with a touch of richness. It is approaching its drinking window although has a good few years ahead yet. Whilst I enjoyed this I wouldn't really call it a blockbuster. (3992 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By David Lawrason
WineAlign (12/8/2010)
(Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz, South Australia red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Szabo, MS
WineAlign (12/2/2010)
(Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz, South Australia red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Josh Raynolds
Vinous, July/August 2010, IWC Issue #151
(Penfolds Wines St. Henri Shiraz South Australia) Subscribe to see review text. | By Campbell Mattinson
The WINEFRONT (4/30/2010)
(Penfolds St Henri Shiraz) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Halliday
Halliday Wine Companion (3/1/2010)
(Penfolds St Henri) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of WineAlign and Vinous and The WINEFRONT and Halliday Wine Companion. (manage subscription channels) |
| Penfolds Producer website
Producer Cellar Door - Barossa (Google Maps)
About Us
Australia's winemaking history of less than two hundred years is brief by European measures though, like Europe, punctuated by periods of extreme success and difficult times. From the earliest winemaking days Penfolds has figured prominently and few would argue the importance of Penfolds’ influence on Australia’s winemaking psyche.
Without the influence of Penfolds the modern Australian wine industry would look very different indeed. Sitting comfortably outside of fad and fashion, Penfolds has taken Australian wine to the world on a grand stage and forged a reputation for quality that is without peer.
Penfolds’ reputation for making wines of provenance and cellaring potential might suggest a mantle of tradition and formality is the preferred attire of a company with so much history to defend. But to label Penfolds as simply an established and conventional winemaker, would be to confuse tradition with consideration and to overlook the innovative spirit that has driven Penfolds since its foundation, and continues to find expression in modern times.
If there is anything traditional about Penfolds, it is the practice of constantly reviewing the wines it already does well, and continuously evolving and refining styles as vineyards mature and access to ever older and more varied vineyard sites improves.
Making The Best Possible Wine
At Penfolds, the role of the winemaker is to make the best possible wine within the constraints of each vintage. Penfolds’ house style emerged from a fortified-wine producing culture and evolved as a winemaking philosophy – a way of making wine – which has had a profound effect on the entire Australian wine industry.
The concept of multi-regional and vineyard blending, a feature of the Penfolds house style, is an amplification of the ‘all-round wine’. Without the constraints of a single vineyard, winemakers could choose the best possible fruit with the outstanding characteristics of each vineyard.
While American oak has played a central role in the development of Penfolds red wines, French oak has been increasingly used in the evolution of new wines – particularly RWT and Yattarna. Maturation in oak, which follows fermentation, is also key to the Penfolds house style.
The Penfolds approach to winemaking has percolated through the entire Australian wine industry over the last 50 years. The techniques employed in research and development of Penfolds wines are remarkable and many of the discoveries and innovations have had a lasting impact on winemaking thinking.
Winemakers
In Max Schubert, Don Ditter, John Duval and Peter Gago, Penfolds has nurtured four of Australia's great winemakers. They have passed the Chief Winemaker’s baton of responsibility for crafting some of Australia's most iconic wines, down through the past six decades.
Joining Peter Gago in the Penfolds winemaking team are Senior Red Winemaker Steve Lienert, Senior White Winemaker Kym Schroeter, and Red Winemakers Andrew Baldwin, Adam Clay, Stephanie Dutton and Matt Woo - also the Penfolds Fortified Winemaker. All members of the Penfolds winemaking team ensure that Penfolds’ reputation for outstanding quality is upheld.
Vineyards
Barossa Valley
Penfolds draws fruit from a combined vineyard area of 618 hectares in the Barossa region of South Australia. The Barossa is about 70 kilometres north of Adelaide and in 1911 Penfolds established a winery at Nuriootpa, completed in time for the 1913 vintage. The Barossa region is known for its relatively low rainfall with many vineyards dry grown on single wire trellising.
Magill Estate
The historic and heritage-protected Magill Estate Vineyard was established in 1844 by Dr Christopher Rawson and Mary Penfold—just eight years after the foundation of Adelaide. It was originally known as the Grange Vineyard, named after their new homestead ‘The Grange’, a cottage which still stands intact amongst the vines.
Eden Valley
Joseph Gilbert planted the first vines in the Eden Valley in 1842 and since that time the region has become synonymous with producing elegant riesling and complex shiraz. While its name suggests a concave nature, Eden Valley is actually a wide ridge, situated east of the Barossa Valley with an altitude ranging from 440 – 550 metres.
McLaren Vale
McLaren Vale is located approximately 40km to the south of Adelaide, with the vineyards in the region located between 6 and 15 kilometres from the Gulf of St Vincent. The elevation ranges from 50 to 350 metres above sea level. Penfolds has company owned vineyards throughout the region, using the fruit as blending components for premium red wines such as Grange and Bin 389.
Coonawarra
Penfolds has had a long history with the Coonawarra region, dating back to their first vineyard purchase in 1960. It is one of the most famous red wine regions in Australia with weathered limestone terra rossa soils, relatively cool climate and overall water availability. Coonawarra has played a significant role in many of Penfolds' multi-regional wines as well as the single region wines such as Bin 128.
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion Winery Of The Year 2014: Penfolds
Penfolds is Australia’s foremost winemaker, with an unbroken line dating back to its establishment in 1844 when medical practitioner Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold and wife Mary purchased ‘the delightfully situated and truly valuable of Mackgill … Comprising 500 acres (202 hectares) of the choicest land’. Here they built the house that still stands today, and within a few years had begun the winery and cellar on the site of today’s buildings at Magill Estate.
Mary took charge of winemaking, initially producing grenache prescribed by her husband as a tonic for anaemic patients. By 1870 she, son-in-law Thomas Hyland and cellar manager/winemaker Joseph Gillard had formed Penfolds & Co. With markets in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, their wine production was over one-third of South Australia’s total.
Growth continued unabated, and in 1945 Penfolds acquired the jewel of the Magill Vineyard, at that time the largest vineyard in South Australia. It now has 2100 hectares of vineyards, the largest share of Australia’s total. Two men came together in the 1950s to lay the foundation of Penfolds today: winemaker Max Schubert, and research chemist Ray Beckwith (who died shortly after his 100th birthday in 2012); indeed, their contribution transcended Penfolds to the entire Australian wine industry.
The architecture for the Penfolds wine portfolio of the twenty-first century was established in the 1960s, half a century ago. There has been growth, both in the range of labels and their price points, but it has been cleverly – indeed sensitively – managed; demand-driven growth has been achieved without any quality compromise whatsoever.
There is no possibility that the pre-eminence of Penfolds will ever be challenged by any other Australian wine business. Equally certain is that the Penfolds brand value will continue to gain ground on the world stage of all consumable products. If proof be needed, the overall quality of the wines in this Wine Companion is the best Penfolds has ever presented to the markets of the globe.
Author: James Halliday Jul 2013Penfolds Shiraz St. HenriThe Rewards of Patience (7th Edition)
Vintage Label Shiraz Cabernet
2011 St Henri Shiraz 100%
2010 St Henri Shiraz 100%
2009 St Henri Shiraz 97% 3%
2008 St Henri Shiraz 91% 9%
2007 St Henri Shiraz 100%
2006 St Henri Shiraz 89% 11%
2005 St Henri Shiraz 89% 11%
2004 St Henri Shiraz 96% 4%
2003 St Henri Shiraz 100%
2002 St Henri Shiraz 90% 10%
2001 St Henri Shiraz 100%
2000 St Henri Shiraz 100%
1999 St Henri Shiraz 89% 11%
1998 St Henri Shiraz 92% 8%
1997 St Henri Shiraz 92% 8%
1996 St Henri Shiraz 90% 10%
1995 St Henri Shiraz- Cabernet 85% 15%
1994 St Henri Shiraz- Cabernet 77% 23%
1993 St Henri Shiraz- Cabernet 87% 13%
1992 St Henri Shiraz- Cabernet 79% 21%
1991 St Henri Shiraz 90% 10%
1990 St Henri Shiraz 89% 11%
1989 St Henri Claret 89% 11%
1988 St Henri Claret 88% 12%
1987 St Henri Claret 87% 13%
1986 St Henri Claret 86% 14%
1985 St Henri Claret 99% 1%
1984 St Henri Claret 77% 23%
1983 St Henri Claret 81% 19%
1982 St Henri Claret 61% 39%
1981 St Henri Claret 74% 26%
1980 St Henri Claret 77% 23%
1979 St Henri Claret 67% 33%
1978 St Henri Claret 56% 44%
1977 St Henri Claret 51% 49%
1976 St Henri Claret 74% 26%
1975 St Henri Claret 75% 25%
1974 St Henri Claret
1973 St Henri Claret
1972 St Henri Claret
1971 St Henri Claret
1970 St Henri Claret
1969 St Henri Claret
1968 St Henri Claret
1967 St Henri Claret
1966 St Henri Claret
1965 St Henri Claret
1964 St Henri Claret
1963 St Henri Claret
1962 St Henri Claret
1961 St Henri Claret
1960 St Henri Claret
1959 St Henri Claret
1958 St Henri Claret
1957 St Henri Claret
1956 St Henri Claret
Shiraz Varietal article (Wikipedia) | Varietal character (Appellation America)St. HenriHomepage for Penfolds, St. Henri:
https://www.penfolds.com/en-au/wines/the-penfolds-collection/st-henri-shiraz/Australia Wine Australia (Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation) | Australian Wines (Wikipedia)South Australia South Australian Wine Industry Association | South Australian Wines (Wikipedia) |
|
