Drank alongside a 2009 Jonata El Alma, which had an edge over this. I left this get about an hour of air. On this showing, it was lacking some of the elegance that I recalled it having (might have been because half the bottle was already sucked out via the coravin, leaving less wine to absorb the remaining oxygen & accelerating its growth curve).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hiding its age well. Deep purple fading to an outer ring of ruby. Medium(+) intensity primary aromas of blackberry and cranberry. Tertiary notes of tobacco and leather bring additional interest. This falls somewhere between medium and full bodied, and is quite elegant for South Australian Shiraz. Less primary fruit than the nose, although there is fresh blackberry, along with dried red and black fruits and a light smokiness.The finish is long and savoury. Medium acidy allows the palate to retain freshness, while the tannins are fine and partially resolved.Some medium(+) alcoholic warmth, but it's not distracting or detracting. This has aged gracefully into a really good space. However, I can see little improvement from here. My recommendation therefore is drink now, or hold for a few more years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Appearance: clear, medium garnet Nose: medium plus intensity; aromas of wet leaves, mushroom, savoury, meaty, dried plum, soy sauce, toast, earthy, dusty, rosemary, prune, leather, then tobacco and licorice. After an hour it shows dried rose pedal. It’s fully developed. Palate: dry, medium plus flavour intensity, very plummy on the palate, licorice, dark chocolate coming through. Structure wise, medium plus acidity, medium plus tannins, high alcohol, full body. The finish is medium plus. Overall, it’s a very good wine. Achieved its peak already. Suggest to drink now, not suitable for further ageing.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine in the Sunshine State; 2/20/2020-2/23/2020 (Florida): Drank side by side with the '98. This was loved a bit less by the group, but I still really enjoyed it. To me it was a bit less full bodied, a little bit more acid to it. Agree also prob more in the savory side of the grape. Drinking really well. We opened the bottles and let them air for prob an hour before we started pouring. For the price point this is becoming a go-to wine for me.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark fruits, spices, smoky and ethanol notes on nose. Medium-plus bodied, dark fruited, earth, leather and mocha tones, still has bold and ripe tannins, good length. Has fruit and structure, but lacks a little charm for me. Will last for many years yet in the cellar.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
{cork, 14%} Fairly Deep garnet still. Gentle, leathery nose. No powerhouse. Almost seductive. Old plums, but gently spicy too. The palate is a bit gaunt in some ways, with aged leathery flavours, spice, bramble; at a nice maturity point, with rich fruit and some structural elements too. Soft, powdery tannins, medium acid, still sweetly fruity; for all the gentle age, there’s not really true complexity of flavours. Slightly bones finish, medium length at best. On this showing, drink up. Level good, decanted for an hour, cork immaculate.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
@ Penfolds Wine evening at 'Les Cavistes'. Wow! Spicy, pepper and chocolate all on the plate. Still tasting fresh as well. I am surprised how well this is drinking. Beautifully balanced. This is one of the best Shiraz'S I have ever tried. It was that good. Will buy more or these soon.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Old School Aussie Shiraz with age (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Perfumed with fine blackberry and slight smokiness, slight leather. Dense and juicy, cherry, fine tannins, blackberry. Tight but pleasant, long. Moreish. Nice. Really nice in fact.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking really well now, this was showing good strong fruit still, but just starting to hint at its ageing. Rich, ripe and tannin now well integrated. Drank this along side a 2001 seppelt St. Peter's which was a great contrasting Aussie Shiraz and both I believe, were and are great values in the world of fine wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is great, 2012 note applies, but I'm less confident than I was then that it will last until 2023. It's not going to fall apart in the next 3-4 years, but I would drink it now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
98 vs 99. The 98 showed a lot of super-ripe almost pruney notes. By contrast the 99 had the same classic Eucalypt shiraz notes but without the prunyness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This has come together a bit more now which is not unusual for St Henri at this stage of its life. Still has that aniseed, dark fruit and rich oak profile but it has softened and in a nice window now. For me I think this wine still has time before it peaks and really starts to develop those deep secondary leather flavours that I love in aged St Henri.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just a fabulous drop from a half bottle; classic, textbook St Henri as it gets old and awesome. Proof positive that aussie Shiraz needn't be oak-bombs to rock.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375ml - FAB! Just drinking really, really well. Lots of cocoa notes, which is interesting for a wine that sees almost no oak at all [5000litre old foudres only]. Right in the zone and a beautifully balanced gem.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened and poured straight to glass. Deep colour. Initially firmly full but slightly closed. Slowly opened to reveal depth and breath of palate but still with a strong but contained savoury finish - which i particularly like. Strangely i thought the flavours and style were a bit more cabernet-esque. The wine continued to improve over time. Words defy me but there was something slightly unusual (definintely not off) in the flavour spectrum. Very interesting and enjoyable - all my guests were quick to accept a top up of their glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Notes not taken, but dark berries hint of vanilla and surprisingly tannic and even after a couple of hours decanting only just beginning to open up. Excellent but would have been much better if some was left for a 2nd day. Another decade left in this at least, great stuff. Could be a 95 point wine if given more air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened and let slow ox for 30 minutes. The nose was gamey with some leather. Slight brett which added an interesting savory note. Palate still has a nice pop of fruit. Good but not great. Likely will not improve substantially.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bach finale: Decanted 2 hours. Drank far too young; could have used another 3-5 years. Beautiful, integrated nose with dark berries, smoked meat, subtle vanilla custard, equally subtle asphalt and gravel, slight fig/raisin character. Very tight palate holds back the level of fruit expression, but already well integrated, with a seamless transition from early palate blackberry into juicy dark plum midpalate, picking up tons of black pepper, edges of herbal tea and tobacco, still fresh with enough acidity, ending with mild integrated tannins. Drink 2015-2023
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Short decant. Dark garnet almost to the rim. Strange nose, and seems slightly oxidized nose. Plenty of dark fruit on the full bodied palate, still has a bit of oak and some tannins. Rather short finish. Much preferred the Clonakilla Hilltops preceding this bottle
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still such a young wine that for mine was still not yet in a sweet spot for drinking. Still has that primary flavor profile jammed with aniseed, ripe plums, olives and a little spice box and mocha thrown in for good measure. Great length and balance with beautiful oak and tannin, just a bit early still to get the most out of this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bright ruby red in colour, lots of alcohol on the nose (14.5%) which was a lot less evident to taste. Soft and full in the mouth, dark berry flavones, nicely balanced tannins and acidity. Very impressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Superb - acomplete and pure Aussie Shiraz - power and balance, depth of dark berry and plum fruit beautifully framed by fine tannins, pepper, cinnamon, anise, cloves, some leather - just keeps on developing. Only detraction is the portiness on the nose but this disappears over the time and doesn't come through on the palate. Years ahead of it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hosted a blind tasting of 3 year 1999 wines for my drinking buddies - St Henri, Anforio Barolo & Chateau Lynch Moussas. The Barolo was disappointing on both the nose and body, probably slightly past it's prime (83 pts) St Henri was a big wine, still tannic and was bursting with berry fruits, great on the mid palate but short on the finish (88 pts). Surprisingly the Lynch Moussas being the lowly Grand Cru came out tops. Great truffle nose followed up with an elegant display of earthy tones, mellowed tannins and a respectable finish (90 pts). Looks like it still has a good 3-5 years left. I suspect the St Henri will perform better in another 5-8 years time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Last of many over the years . . . Beautiful garnet red. Signature fruited oak nose, dust, red berries. Resolved, gorgeous mouth feel, big wave of fruit, front, middle back, deep lingering finish. Strawberries/raspberries, bit of white pepper. Tannins, acid all in balance, bit more oak on the finish than I like. But this is a huge wine, not in a extracted way, just getting all the fruit out she has to offer.
Left out overnight. Nose hiding a bit, some licorice there now. Put on some weight just laying in the decanter, but overall the wine has same notes. Kinda strange. Guess this baby has life ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Raspberry, licorice and spicy/mocha nose, similar on the palate with lots of raspberry, some dark fruit and slight meatiness. In a good place with some more improvement to come over the next 3-5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Purple and a bit transparent, not huge extracted. Smoky blue fruits come of the nose. Great mouth feel, glides, building liquid fruit, palates melt together. Leather, oak, licorice, pepper. Niccccce. All balanced, fruit, acid, oak. Still a pup. One left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had with prime rib at Christmas. Just was not the same wine that I purchased. Through a TON of sediment. Decanted for an hour. Kind of flat, no umph, no punch, no nada. 85 is being charitable; would definitely PAZZZ at this price level. A big disappointment. Next.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very restrained and concentrated wine with enough structure to last several more years. Dark fruits, leather, cherry and berry have good intensity and the finish coats the palate for a good 20 seconds.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cork a bit wet, little seepage under the foil. Yeah dark red brick. That St. Henri deep red fruit, faint oak, and a slight bit of funk on the P&P. First impression reminder is of the so not new extracted style, very old world tech's here, just letting the fruit shine though. Like it. A bit watery on the palate, some dried oak, then a little acid, then a wave of sweet fruit on the mid palate, then a wave of tart strawberry, cranberry, deeper. Big long aftertaste finish. Nice. May post Day 2. Last sip, bigger upfront. wow.
Day 2. Nose giving off some Alch., dried oak, strange for St H. Not picking up weight, lost some punch from the ripe fruit. -2pts if you open too soon, need a short decant, due to sediment. Leads me to believe (depending on storage, looking at my leakage) that you can consider drinking up.
Day 4? Strange as I thought this was gone already. Still holding up. Not perfectly balanced but amazing to be holding up. Long deep fruit finish of cherries and cranberries. Leather. A bit of vinegar on the nose, but very interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
NobleRottersSydney - Penfolds prior to 2000 (Alio's, Surrey Hills): [cork, 14%] This is more open and friendly than the ’96, in fact it’s almost voluptuous in comparison. Plummy, faintly reductive fruit aromas precede a ripe palate of red berries & plums, nicely balanced with strong but fine powdery tannins, medium-bodied weight and a decent finish which is even a bit simple at this stage. There’s some evolution here; it doesn’t have the bank-vault integrity of the 96, yet is still only offering a fraction of its potential. Give it five years at least.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Terrific bottle. Feared that it might be past its prime. Decanted for 30 minutes, identical expereience to JohnSh. Blast is definitely plums, cherries and a very long finish. I wish that I had another bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a half bottle. Deep brick in colour, with an expressive nose of cherry, plum, cloves and a hint of brown sugar. Very expressive on the full palate as well. with a structured blast of more plums, cherries, cloves, licorice, blueberries and leather on a very long finish. It absolutely coats the mouth, and lasts about 45 seconds. Very impressive wine (A-/A). Lots of fruit yes, but not a fruit bomb: there's a lovely balance and stucture with the considerable power.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep purple, almost black in colour, this 1999 St. Henri was a great example of the style. Not over oaked, the nose shows some delicate red berry fruit, capsicum and spice. The palate showed warmth and depth. Brooding dark plums and prune followed by anise, liquorice and herbaceous characters. The perfect accompaniment to Easter lunch.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 5 hrs. Lil and Paul's going away. Immediately you notice that this wine is much more elegant than your typical Aussie shiraz. Rich dark fruit on the palate. Beautifully balanced with superb oak integration. Still has a long life ahead of it. I like this more than the '98.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lovely structure and intensity for a wine that sees no new oak. Very aromatic, and took some time to open, could have waited a few more years to drink. Overall, a very beautiful wine, focused on the depth of the fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby/black colour; opaque. Aromas of grape bubblegum, pepper, and spice. Medium-full bodied, with spice, pepper, and black fruit. Moderate finish, 30s, with black fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby colour to a violet rim. Fat, thick, slow legs. Aromas of vanilla, brown sugar, and blackberry. Medium-full bodied with black plums, currant, and violets. Tannins already integrated. Moderate finish, ~25s with blueberry notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great wine. Lovely aroma of cherries and red licorice. 20 second finish with smooth velvety tannins which seem to wrap around the tongue about 10 seconds after swallow. Not overly complex but this may come out with more cellar time. Still, lots of mouthfilling flavour.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
NobleRottersSydney - Old Penfolds & 2001 Bin releases (Lucio's, Paddington): Red & black. The only St Henri where any oak appears evident on the nose. There’s plenty of chocolatey blackberry fruit as well, which contributes to a powerful palate. Tannins are fine and strong, and contribute to a long finish. Acid is pronounced. Really the wine is all arms & legs, but the components are all there. Don’t touch for 10 years. Perhaps this was one wine of the 99 vintage where Penfolds really did hit the target.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Inky black-ruby colour. Black cherry, cassis, mint, tar and leather nose. Great concentration; full-bodied and very flavourful palate; long, tailored and stylish finish. 5/5+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
7/4/2023 - gresch Likes this wine: 89 Points
Drank alongside a 2009 Jonata El Alma, which had an edge over this. I left this get about an hour of air. On this showing, it was lacking some of the elegance that I recalled it having (might have been because half the bottle was already sucked out via the coravin, leaving less wine to absorb the remaining oxygen & accelerating its growth curve).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2021 - Robbie K wrote: 93 Points
Hiding its age well. Deep purple fading to an outer ring of ruby.
Medium(+) intensity primary aromas of blackberry and cranberry. Tertiary notes of tobacco and leather bring additional interest.
This falls somewhere between medium and full bodied, and is quite elegant for South Australian Shiraz. Less primary fruit than the nose, although there is fresh blackberry, along with dried red and black fruits and a light smokiness.The finish is long and savoury. Medium acidy allows the palate to retain freshness, while the tannins are fine and partially resolved.Some medium(+) alcoholic warmth, but it's not distracting or detracting. This has aged gracefully into a really good space. However, I can see little improvement from here. My recommendation therefore is drink now, or hold for a few more years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2021 - rmohr Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is one of my favorite wines. It is still drinking well. Can't wait to drink the last bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2020 - Jason Wu Likes this wine: 94 Points
Appearance: clear, medium garnet
Nose: medium plus intensity; aromas of wet leaves, mushroom, savoury, meaty, dried plum, soy sauce, toast, earthy, dusty, rosemary, prune, leather, then tobacco and licorice. After an hour it shows dried rose pedal. It’s fully developed.
Palate: dry, medium plus flavour intensity, very plummy on the palate, licorice, dark chocolate coming through. Structure wise, medium plus acidity, medium plus tannins, high alcohol, full body. The finish is medium plus.
Overall, it’s a very good wine. Achieved its peak already. Suggest to drink now, not suitable for further ageing.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2020 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Wine in the Sunshine State; 2/20/2020-2/23/2020 (Florida): Drank side by side with the '98. This was loved a bit less by the group, but I still really enjoyed it. To me it was a bit less full bodied, a little bit more acid to it. Agree also prob more in the savory side of the grape. Drinking really well. We opened the bottles and let them air for prob an hour before we started pouring. For the price point this is becoming a go-to wine for me.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2019 - lightning wrote: 89 Points
From a half-bottle, flawless cork.
Dark fruits, spices, smoky and ethanol notes on nose. Medium-plus bodied, dark fruited, earth, leather and mocha tones, still has bold and ripe tannins, good length. Has fruit and structure, but lacks a little charm for me. Will last for many years yet in the cellar.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2019 - graemeg wrote:
{cork, 14%} Fairly Deep garnet still. Gentle, leathery nose. No powerhouse. Almost seductive. Old plums, but gently spicy too. The palate is a bit gaunt in some ways, with aged leathery flavours, spice, bramble; at a nice maturity point, with rich fruit and some structural elements too. Soft, powdery tannins, medium acid, still sweetly fruity; for all the gentle age, there’s not really true complexity of flavours. Slightly bones finish, medium length at best. On this showing, drink up. Level good, decanted for an hour, cork immaculate.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2018 - starwalk wrote: 93 Points
Drank 3 during 2017 am still Vpleased with the wine and scored it a 93
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2017 - Alexander Smith Likes this wine: 96 Points
@ Penfolds Wine evening at 'Les Cavistes'. Wow! Spicy, pepper and chocolate all on the plate. Still tasting fresh as well. I am surprised how well this is drinking. Beautifully balanced. This is one of the best Shiraz'S I have ever tried. It was that good. Will buy more or these soon.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2017 - Azzadello wrote:
.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2017 - chatters wrote:
Old School Aussie Shiraz with age (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Perfumed with fine blackberry and slight smokiness, slight leather. Dense and juicy, cherry, fine tannins, blackberry. Tight but pleasant, long. Moreish. Nice. Really nice in fact.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2016 - BigJ Likes this wine:
Drinking really well now, this was showing good strong fruit still, but just starting to hint at its ageing. Rich, ripe and tannin now well integrated. Drank this along side a 2001 seppelt St. Peter's which was a great contrasting Aussie Shiraz and both I believe, were and are great values in the world of fine wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2016 - Giggs wrote: 93 Points
This is great, 2012 note applies, but I'm less confident than I was then that it will last until 2023. It's not going to fall apart in the next 3-4 years, but I would drink it now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2015 - ubercuvee wrote:
98 vs 99. The 98 showed a lot of super-ripe almost pruney notes. By contrast the 99 had the same classic Eucalypt shiraz notes but without the prunyness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2014 - HarrisonHool Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lots of sediment - heavy body and lovely peppery notes on the palate.
Slightly acidic and may be time to drink while it lasts.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2014 - deverett wrote: 93 Points
This has come together a bit more now which is not unusual for St Henri at this stage of its life. Still has that aniseed, dark fruit and rich oak profile but it has softened and in a nice window now. For me I think this wine still has time before it peaks and really starts to develop those deep secondary leather flavours that I love in aged St Henri.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2013 - rwgray Likes this wine:
Full bodied but well mellowed at this age. Great on its own but lost it's punch with some mildly spicy food
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2013 - JR512 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious. Not big as other shiraz. Has some time left in it but recommend drinking soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2013 - Annabk wrote: 95 Points
Excellent, drink soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2013 - Annabk wrote: 95 Points
Plummy tones, excellent, drink soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2013 - marcqui Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well integrated tannins. Should drink now or next 2 years
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2013 - ubercuvee wrote: 94 Points
Just a fabulous drop from a half bottle; classic, textbook St Henri as it gets old and awesome. Proof positive that aussie Shiraz needn't be oak-bombs to rock.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2013 - ubercuvee wrote:
From 375ml - FAB! Just drinking really, really well. Lots of cocoa notes, which is interesting for a wine that sees almost no oak at all [5000litre old foudres only]. Right in the zone and a beautifully balanced gem.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2012 - nwebstar wrote: 92 Points
Opened and poured straight to glass. Deep colour. Initially firmly full but slightly closed. Slowly opened to reveal depth and breath of palate but still with a strong but contained savoury finish - which i particularly like. Strangely i thought the flavours and style were a bit more cabernet-esque. The wine continued to improve over time. Words defy me but there was something slightly unusual (definintely not off) in the flavour spectrum. Very interesting and enjoyable - all my guests were quick to accept a top up of their glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2012 - discoduckglue wrote: 93 Points
Notes not taken, but dark berries hint of vanilla and surprisingly tannic and even after a couple of hours decanting only just beginning to open up. Excellent but would have been much better if some was left for a 2nd day. Another decade left in this at least, great stuff. Could be a 95 point wine if given more air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2012 - rwgray wrote: 90 Points
amazingly youthful. nicely balanced not over-blown
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2012 - fdub wrote: 89 Points
Opened and let slow ox for 30 minutes. The nose was gamey with some leather. Slight brett which added an interesting savory note. Palate still has a nice pop of fruit. Good but not great. Likely will not improve substantially.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2012 - Giggs wrote: 93 Points
Bach finale: Decanted 2 hours. Drank far too young; could have used another 3-5 years. Beautiful, integrated nose with dark berries, smoked meat, subtle vanilla custard, equally subtle asphalt and gravel, slight fig/raisin character. Very tight palate holds back the level of fruit expression, but already well integrated, with a seamless transition from early palate blackberry into juicy dark plum midpalate, picking up tons of black pepper, edges of herbal tea and tobacco, still fresh with enough acidity, ending with mild integrated tannins. Drink 2015-2023
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2012 - pavel_p wrote: 88 Points
Short decant. Dark garnet almost to the rim. Strange nose, and seems slightly oxidized nose. Plenty of dark fruit on the full bodied palate, still has a bit of oak and some tannins. Rather short finish. Much preferred the Clonakilla Hilltops preceding this bottle
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2011 - rwgray wrote: 91 Points
Lots of life yet. good for 5 years. fragrant and delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2011 - deverett wrote: 92 Points
Still such a young wine that for mine was still not yet in a sweet spot for drinking. Still has that primary flavor profile jammed with aniseed, ripe plums, olives and a little spice box and mocha thrown in for good measure. Great length and balance with beautiful oak and tannin, just a bit early still to get the most out of this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2010 - gb1406 wrote: 90 Points
Bright ruby red in colour, lots of alcohol on the nose (14.5%) which was a lot less evident to taste. Soft and full in the mouth, dark berry flavones, nicely balanced tannins and acidity. Very impressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2010 - mattwoolley wrote: 94 Points
Superb - acomplete and pure Aussie Shiraz - power and balance, depth of dark berry and plum fruit beautifully framed by fine tannins, pepper, cinnamon, anise, cloves, some leather - just keeps on developing. Only detraction is the portiness on the nose but this disappears over the time and doesn't come through on the palate. Years ahead of it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2010 - Leon Chan wrote: 88 Points
Hosted a blind tasting of 3 year 1999 wines for my drinking buddies - St Henri, Anforio Barolo & Chateau Lynch Moussas. The Barolo was disappointing on both the nose and body, probably slightly past it's prime (83 pts) St Henri was a big wine, still tannic and was bursting with berry fruits, great on the mid palate but short on the finish (88 pts). Surprisingly the Lynch Moussas being the lowly Grand Cru came out tops. Great truffle nose followed up with an elegant display of earthy tones, mellowed tannins and a respectable finish (90 pts). Looks like it still has a good 3-5 years left. I suspect the St Henri will perform better in another 5-8 years time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2010 - tplskylrk wrote: 92 Points
Last of many over the years . . . Beautiful garnet red. Signature fruited oak nose, dust, red berries. Resolved, gorgeous mouth feel, big wave of fruit, front, middle back, deep lingering finish. Strawberries/raspberries, bit of white pepper. Tannins, acid all in balance, bit more oak on the finish than I like. But this is a huge wine, not in a extracted way, just getting all the fruit out she has to offer.
Left out overnight. Nose hiding a bit, some licorice there now. Put on some weight just laying in the decanter, but overall the wine has same notes. Kinda strange. Guess this baby has life ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2010 - bendid wrote: 95 Points
Raspberry, licorice and spicy/mocha nose, similar on the palate with lots of raspberry, some dark fruit and slight meatiness. In a good place with some more improvement to come over the next 3-5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2010 - tplskylrk wrote: 91 Points
Purple and a bit transparent, not huge extracted. Smoky blue fruits come of the nose. Great mouth feel, glides, building liquid fruit, palates melt together. Leather, oak, licorice, pepper. Niccccce. All balanced, fruit, acid, oak. Still a pup. One left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2010 - sakemakibug wrote: 90 Points
?qpr though a solid if fruit fwd shiraz
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2009 - jedly wrote: 85 Points
Had with prime rib at Christmas. Just was not the same wine that I purchased. Through a TON of sediment. Decanted for an hour. Kind of flat, no umph, no punch, no nada. 85 is being charitable; would definitely PAZZZ at this price level. A big disappointment. Next.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2009 - JAlbert wrote: 90 Points
Deep rich and classy
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2009 - brianb8851 wrote: 91 Points
Very smooth and plush, good concentrated fruit with nice length
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/7/2009 - matthen wrote: 92 Points
A very restrained and concentrated wine with enough structure to last several more years. Dark fruits, leather, cherry and berry have good intensity and the finish coats the palate for a good 20 seconds.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2009 - tplskylrk wrote: 92 Points
Cork a bit wet, little seepage under the foil. Yeah dark red brick. That St. Henri deep red fruit, faint oak, and a slight bit of funk on the P&P. First impression reminder is of the so not new extracted style, very old world tech's here, just letting the fruit shine though. Like it. A bit watery on the palate, some dried oak, then a little acid, then a wave of sweet fruit on the mid palate, then a wave of tart strawberry, cranberry, deeper. Big long aftertaste finish. Nice. May post Day 2. Last sip, bigger upfront. wow.
Day 2. Nose giving off some Alch., dried oak, strange for St H. Not picking up weight, lost some punch from the ripe fruit. -2pts if you open too soon, need a short decant, due to sediment. Leads me to believe (depending on storage, looking at my leakage) that you can consider drinking up.
Day 4? Strange as I thought this was gone already. Still holding up. Not perfectly balanced but amazing to be holding up. Long deep fruit finish of cherries and cranberries. Leather. A bit of vinegar on the nose, but very interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2009 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - Penfolds prior to 2000 (Alio's, Surrey Hills): [cork, 14%] This is more open and friendly than the ’96, in fact it’s almost voluptuous in comparison. Plummy, faintly reductive fruit aromas precede a ripe palate of red berries & plums, nicely balanced with strong but fine powdery tannins, medium-bodied weight and a decent finish which is even a bit simple at this stage. There’s some evolution here; it doesn’t have the bank-vault integrity of the 96, yet is still only offering a fraction of its potential. Give it five years at least.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2009 - BHFred wrote: 93 Points
Terrific bottle. Feared that it might be past its prime. Decanted for 30 minutes, identical expereience to JohnSh. Blast is definitely plums, cherries and a very long finish. I wish that I had another bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2008 - lhickey wrote: 91 Points
Holding up well. Still fresh.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2008 - JohnSh wrote: 93 Points
From a half bottle. Deep brick in colour, with an expressive nose of cherry, plum, cloves and a hint of brown sugar. Very expressive on the full palate as well. with a structured blast of more plums, cherries, cloves, licorice, blueberries and leather on a very long finish. It absolutely coats the mouth, and lasts about 45 seconds. Very impressive wine (A-/A). Lots of fruit yes, but not a fruit bomb: there's a lovely balance and stucture with the considerable power.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2008 - jamieirving wrote: 91 Points
Deep purple, almost black in colour, this 1999 St. Henri was a great example of the style. Not over oaked, the nose shows some delicate red berry fruit, capsicum and spice. The palate showed warmth and depth. Brooding dark plums and prune followed by anise, liquorice and herbaceous characters. The perfect accompaniment to Easter lunch.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2007 - sakemakibug wrote: flawed
Not vinegar yet, but bitter stinky as sin!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2007 - tonsta wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 5 hrs. Lil and Paul's going away. Immediately you notice that this wine is much more elegant than your typical Aussie shiraz. Rich dark fruit on the palate. Beautifully balanced with superb oak integration. Still has a long life ahead of it. I like this more than the '98.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2006 - pvd420 wrote: 92 Points
Lovely structure and intensity for a wine that sees no new oak. Very aromatic, and took some time to open, could have waited a few more years to drink. Overall, a very beautiful wine, focused on the depth of the fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2006 - hutch wrote:
I found this a little angular. It was tannic, tough and sour. Maybe it's closed, but I haven't enjoyed this a couple times now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2005 - futronic wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby/black colour; opaque. Aromas of grape bubblegum, pepper, and spice. Medium-full bodied, with spice, pepper, and black fruit. Moderate finish, 30s, with black fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2004 - futronic wrote: 87 Points
Dark ruby colour to a violet rim. Fat, thick, slow legs. Aromas of vanilla, brown sugar, and blackberry. Medium-full bodied with black plums, currant, and violets. Tannins already integrated. Moderate finish, ~25s with blueberry notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2004 - StarV100 wrote:
Great wine. Lovely aroma of cherries and red licorice. 20 second finish with smooth velvety tannins which seem to wrap around the tongue about 10 seconds after swallow. Not overly complex but this may come out with more cellar time. Still, lots of mouthfilling flavour.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2004 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - Old Penfolds & 2001 Bin releases (Lucio's, Paddington): Red & black. The only St Henri where any oak appears evident on the nose. There’s plenty of chocolatey blackberry fruit as well, which contributes to a powerful palate. Tannins are fine and strong, and contribute to a long finish. Acid is pronounced. Really the wine is all arms & legs, but the components are all there. Don’t touch for 10 years. Perhaps this was one wine of the 99 vintage where Penfolds really did hit the target.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2003 - Double-A Likes this wine: 98 Points
Inky black-ruby colour. Black cherry, cassis, mint, tar and leather nose. Great concentration; full-bodied and very flavourful palate; long, tailored and stylish finish.
5/5+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment