2008 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri
Community Tasting Note
RajivAyyangar wrote:
Thursday, January 14, 2016 - MS-style Blinds (6 in 25 minutes) at Californios (Californios SF): 91% Shiraz
9% Cabernet from Coonawarra
Elevage: 13 months in large 50+ year old vats.
I’ve heard that actually these are 2nd-3rd use barrels. The info comes 2nd hand from the Penfolds winemaker - Peter Gago. I definitely got signs of oak on the palate.
"It is matured in old, 1460 litre vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character.” - I don’t know if I believe this.
Brief notes: This was really, really good - a new world wine balanced in an old world way. Not complex but really nicely balanced. Maybe could use some time in the bottle to integrate the oak more. Score: Around 9.
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Full Notes:
Visual
- opaque
- dark ruby, hint of red at the rim
- no gas or sediment
- moderate tears
Nose
- clean
- moderate to moderate minus intensity - a little bit tight
- youthful
- fruit-driven
- fruit - primarily dark fruits. cassis, blackcurrant liqueur
- earth - not much, a little fresh turned earth
- no notable minerality [should have said earth, not minerality]
- no herbaceousness
- no oak on the nose
- [forgot to mention florals]
- complexity is moderate minus
Palate
- shows signs of oak on the palate. not 100% new - maybe 20-40% new barrels, still un-integrated
- dry
- medium plus body
- elevated alcohol, 14% (close - 14.5%)
- elevated acid
- elevated tannins [forgot to mention texture]
- confirm the blackcurrant, cassis
- slight turned-earth
- balance in a ripe way, but there's plenty of acidity to go around
- complexity is moderate
- finish is moderate plus
Initial Conclusions
- based on the structure and aromatics, with very balanced alcohol, I believe this is an Old World wine, from a moderate climate
- blackcurrant and elevated tannins and oak make me think Bordeaux.
- I don’t get pyrazine character of cabernet/cab franc
- [forgot to mention the clean-ness - no brettanomyces]
- This could be merlot-based
- could be Napa cabernet from a relatively cool climate
- could be South American cabernet - could be a lot of things.
Final Conclusion
- Merlot blend with cabernet franc, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, 2013
Actually: 2008 Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz
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Comment posted by Brentw1:
12/17/2019 1:45:00 PM - I’m not sure I believe you know what you are talking about. A St Henri with oak..........! I have this wine in my cellar going back 15 years and I totally disagree with your review. But there you go.