Inky purple with a hint of browning creeping in. Feminine nose, luscious ripe blackberry hits you first, fruits of the forest jam, some vanilla cream, hints of licorice and faint cedarwood, but its really the concentrated blackberry that's front and centre. All old barrels, no new oak used for maturation. The palate is juicy, supple tannins, fruit driven with that blackberry driving to a long finish. Great intensity and density, and a lovely change from oak bomb Shiraz. Paired with a 650g Rib Eye.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Late lunch at Sennett. Tasted blind. Drank in Grassl Cru. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of fruity black plums, blackberries, black pepper, black olives. Developing. On the palate, dry, high acidity, high alcohol (14.5%), very smooth integrated tannins, full body. Pronounced flavour intensity, with flavours of blackberries, black cherries, black plums, black pepper. Long finish. Very good quality. Glossy polished and oh so smooth Aussie Shiraz. Just a little straight. Drinking well already and can also develop. Will last, definitely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
21082022 - prepared this overnight. Popped, decanted, rebottled and kept back in the chiller. Revisited the next day over lunch. Nose; perfume fruit medley, currant jelly, some mint and violet notes. Palate; shone brightly here - full bodied, balanced acidity with polished & velvety tannins despite its youth. Superb tensile from front to mid and end palate. Lively & very complex finish + pairing with our lamb rack today
Textbook Penfolds balance. Fruit still very fresh, would keep another 10years at least under screwcap. Full and silky mouth feel. Had not yet developed savoury characteristics but they are there.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aroma's of very ripe black fruit, jammy. Aroma's of prune, blackberries, spices and lots of chocolate with a very long finish. A slight alcoholic touch.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still so young, but I had another '15 on the go and it's always interesting to compare wines.
Completely opaque. Very primary with a wall of what I would call typical Australian flavours but a very enjoyable freshness to this wine given the lack of new oak. Will age for years, but conversely, is also enjoyable now. Very good length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Covid, Stay the f... home smaking (Teams) 2015 Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz (Runar) 14,5 % Farge: Rubinrød med lillatoner Duft: Litt søtladen nese med svarte bær, kaffe, plommer, krydder, blomster, tobakk Smak: Konsentrert i munn med rødbær, svarte bær, mye eik. Litt uren. Ettersmaken er fantastisk og gir mange lag. Fantastisk balanse og alkohol helt integrert. Ikke mest sjarmerende i flighten, men høyest kvalitet. Trenger tid. Vurdering: Meget høy kvalitet Poeng: 91-94
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From glass. Gorgeous broad nose of nail polish and sharp cassis, as well as a kind of “creamy conifer.” Similar notes on palate, with also quite a lingering darker, medicinal tar finish. Clean and lively, acidity shy of tingling, a wine more of breadth and length than depth or concentration. But also fine, elegant. A lot to like here, now. Unqualified, would second some of the skepticism regarding longevity expressed below. Could imagine this in older age being fairly simple.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is all black fruit in a glass from nose to palate to retronasal. Finish is commendable. I actually like it drunk young. Yes little complexity but freshness, chewy tannins and acidic verve. Looking forward to it developing in the glass for the next hour
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Primary but very well balanced. Blackberries, dark cherries, fresh acidity and spices. Not complex, but thankfully the oak is well controlled. Reliable ol' aussie shiraz. Will be better in 5 years.
Menthol, blue berries and bitter dark chocolate on the nose. Mouthfeel is much denser than the Bin’s tasted. Good balance. Tastes more evolved than it should be for the age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
P&P - Ah....an old friend. Have drank so many over the years, but its been a while. That beautiful Down Under Shiraz color and depth, density. Nose is lovely, some iron, blood, rustic herbs, and some creamy Oak that will eventually give way. Bit watery on the palate on the P&P, then a deeper fruit finish. Some tight astringent front finish. This is a bit disjointed ATM. Lets see in a day.
Penfolds Grange dinner with Stephanie Dutton (The Musket Room in NYC): This wine has been my surprise of the week. I had never paid too much attention to it although I know it's fairly well available in the US. Does seem like there's real value here. This is all old oak and love the cleanness that creates. A certain crisp and fresh feel to it. Lots of berries which show well. A hint of spice (although that is more secondary to the berries). Well balanced. Nice wine.
Penfolds tasting w/Kevin Zraly (Sherry Lehman): Another interesting wine and one of my takeaways from the tasting. I had not realized that when Grange was first being created back in the 50's there were different opinions about how best to make Shiraz and so one winemaker (Max Schubert) opted for a more oaked profile and hence was born Grange and another opted for purely Neutral oak and hence was born St Henri. Which seems to be one of the only Penfolds wines without a BIN label. This was aged in large vats that were purchased 50+ years ago and already considered 'used' at the time. Lots of red currants coming out here and that's the first impression, but it's very well balanced by almost a more earthy style and then some garden spices and black licorice and a hint of mint and maybe some more black fruits. A very clean style of Shiraz. Another wine that feels like a pretty reasonable value and something I'd especially look for with some age.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
There is a wonderful elegance to this wine, full of plush and fresh black fruit, blackberry, dark black cherries along with cracked black pepper, a little meaty and mint, soft refined polished tannins which led to a smooth long elegant finish. Multi-regional blend, South Australia. Sourced from McLaren Vale, Robe, The Peninsulas, Barossa Valley, Wrattonbully, Adelaide Hills and Mt Benson. Aged in 12 month 50+ Large oak vats, This wine sees no fresh or seasoned oak.Drink now over the next 2 decades
This is a jam-packed fruit bomb. But with sophistication. The fruit is so generous and natural. Don't get the feeling it has been over extracted and luckily there is no over oaking. In fact the use of old big barrels puts the fruit afore. If you ever look for "baby fat" this is it. Tannins are subtle and there is just enough lift in the acids. Wonder how this will develop over time. Found mulberries/rotten strawberries and candied bananas in the nose, as well as some gamey notes and a slight hint of menthol in the ever so long aftertaste - nearly 1 minute.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big nose full of dark berries, plum, with a meaty background. Full bodied on the nose with massive fruit, but also a very elegant feeling. It never becomes heavy, lovely rich red.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Falt for fristelsen. På karaffel 2 timer. Alt for ung. Gjerrig på lukt. Fruktig, medium fylde, godt integrerte tanniner. Siste glasset klart bedre. Nytt forsøk om 2-3 år.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
93% Shiraz og 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14,% alkohol. 12 måneder modning på gamle fat.
Rik og kraftig duftbilde med modne plommer, sødmefulle solbær og med pent floralt preg. Pent fyldig og bred vin med flott rik frukt. Saftige solbær, plommer og bjørnebær og herlig grafitt. Bra tanninstruktur. Lang og fin krydrete utgang. Veldig tiltalende og flott vin som har bevart friskheten sin på en god måte.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/24/2024 - RandalWA wrote: 95 Points
Inky purple with a hint of browning creeping in. Feminine nose, luscious ripe blackberry hits you first, fruits of the forest jam, some vanilla cream, hints of licorice and faint cedarwood, but its really the concentrated blackberry that's front and centre. All old barrels, no new oak used for maturation. The palate is juicy, supple tannins, fruit driven with that blackberry driving to a long finish. Great intensity and density, and a lovely change from oak bomb Shiraz. Paired with a 650g Rib Eye.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2023 - calypse Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sehr voll und rund, würzig. Etwas Rauch, schöne Tanninstruktur. Die letzte Finesse fehlt, vor allem bei dem Preis.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/4/2022 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 93 Points
Late lunch at Sennett. Tasted blind. Drank in Grassl Cru.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of fruity black plums, blackberries, black pepper, black olives. Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, high alcohol (14.5%), very smooth integrated tannins, full body. Pronounced flavour intensity, with flavours of blackberries, black cherries, black plums, black pepper. Long finish.
Very good quality. Glossy polished and oh so smooth Aussie Shiraz. Just a little straight. Drinking well already and can also develop. Will last, definitely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2022 - Romz Likes this wine: 94 Points
21082022 - prepared this overnight. Popped, decanted, rebottled and kept back in the chiller. Revisited the next day over lunch. Nose; perfume fruit medley, currant jelly, some mint and violet notes. Palate; shone brightly here - full bodied, balanced acidity with polished & velvety tannins despite its youth. Superb tensile from front to mid and end palate. Lively & very complex finish + pairing with our lamb rack today
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
4/15/2022 - JxE Likes this wine: 92 Points
Textbook Penfolds balance. Fruit still very fresh, would keep another 10years at least under screwcap. Full and silky mouth feel. Had not yet developed savoury characteristics but they are there.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2022 - PKim wrote: 95 Points
Very good. Would improve with a little more age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2021 - Mr Coone Likes this wine: 95 Points
Aroma's of very ripe black fruit, jammy. Aroma's of prune, blackberries, spices and lots of chocolate with a very long finish.
A slight alcoholic touch.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2021 - Cooky474 wrote: 93 Points
Still so young, but I had another '15 on the go and it's always interesting to compare wines.
Completely opaque. Very primary with a wall of what I would call typical Australian flavours but a very enjoyable freshness to this wine given the lack of new oak. Will age for years, but conversely, is also enjoyable now. Very good length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2021 - "Rhône Rider" Likes this wine: 94 Points
Covid, Stay the f... home smaking (Teams)
2015 Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz (Runar)
14,5 %
Farge: Rubinrød med lillatoner
Duft: Litt søtladen nese med svarte bær, kaffe, plommer, krydder, blomster, tobakk
Smak: Konsentrert i munn med rødbær, svarte bær, mye eik. Litt uren. Ettersmaken er fantastisk og gir mange lag. Fantastisk balanse og alkohol helt integrert. Ikke mest sjarmerende i flighten, men høyest kvalitet. Trenger tid.
Vurdering: Meget høy kvalitet
Poeng: 91-94
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2021 - Nilsenfr Likes this wine: 88 Points
For ung. La ligge til 2023
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2020 - Necowine wrote: 89 Points
From glass. Gorgeous broad nose of nail polish and sharp cassis, as well as a kind of “creamy conifer.” Similar notes on palate, with also quite a lingering darker, medicinal tar finish. Clean and lively, acidity shy of tingling, a wine more of breadth and length than depth or concentration. But also fine, elegant. A lot to like here, now. Unqualified, would second some of the skepticism regarding longevity expressed below. Could imagine this in older age being fairly simple.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2020 - Vitisconcierge Likes this wine: 99 Points
This is all black fruit in a glass from nose to palate to retronasal. Finish is commendable. I actually like it drunk young. Yes little complexity but freshness, chewy tannins and acidic verve. Looking forward to it developing in the glass for the next hour
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2020 - ieatprawnsss wrote: 92 Points
Primary but very well balanced. Blackberries, dark cherries, fresh acidity and spices. Not complex, but thankfully the oak is well controlled. Reliable ol' aussie shiraz. Will be better in 5 years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5)
3/16/2020 - roaddogtrading Likes this wine:
For the second day of lockdown we decided to go to Australia. Quite a nice pretend trip.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2020 - wineotim wrote: 92 Points
Very dry, primary, not spicy. Well balanced, fresh berry aromas. Did not distinguish itself with any Aussie qualities.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2020 - om42 wrote:
Menthol, blue berries and bitter dark chocolate on the nose. Mouthfeel is much denser than the Bin’s tasted. Good balance. Tastes more evolved than it should be for the age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2019 - wineotim wrote: 93 Points
Tasted two samples at a local event. The intensity and focus is all there without oak influence.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2019 - tplskylrk wrote:
P&P - Ah....an old friend. Have drank so many over the years, but its been a while. That beautiful Down Under Shiraz color and depth, density. Nose is lovely, some iron, blood, rustic herbs, and some creamy Oak that will eventually give way. Bit watery on the palate on the P&P, then a deeper fruit finish. Some tight astringent front finish. This is a bit disjointed ATM. Lets see in a day.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
4/30/2019 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Penfolds Grange dinner with Stephanie Dutton (The Musket Room in NYC): This wine has been my surprise of the week. I had never paid too much attention to it although I know it's fairly well available in the US. Does seem like there's real value here. This is all old oak and love the cleanness that creates. A certain crisp and fresh feel to it. Lots of berries which show well. A hint of spice (although that is more secondary to the berries). Well balanced. Nice wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/25/2019 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Penfolds tasting w/Kevin Zraly (Sherry Lehman): Another interesting wine and one of my takeaways from the tasting. I had not realized that when Grange was first being created back in the 50's there were different opinions about how best to make Shiraz and so one winemaker (Max Schubert) opted for a more oaked profile and hence was born Grange and another opted for purely Neutral oak and hence was born St Henri. Which seems to be one of the only Penfolds wines without a BIN label. This was aged in large vats that were purchased 50+ years ago and already considered 'used' at the time. Lots of red currants coming out here and that's the first impression, but it's very well balanced by almost a more earthy style and then some garden spices and black licorice and a hint of mint and maybe some more black fruits. A very clean style of Shiraz. Another wine that feels like a pretty reasonable value and something I'd especially look for with some age.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2019 - Alexander Smith Likes this wine: 96 Points
There is a wonderful elegance to this wine, full of plush and fresh black fruit, blackberry, dark black cherries along with cracked black pepper, a little meaty and mint, soft refined polished tannins which led to a smooth long elegant finish. Multi-regional blend, South Australia. Sourced from McLaren Vale, Robe, The Peninsulas, Barossa Valley, Wrattonbully, Adelaide Hills and Mt Benson. Aged in 12 month 50+ Large oak vats, This wine sees no fresh or seasoned oak.Drink now over the next 2 decades
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
1/30/2019 - Eriklainen wrote:
This is a jam-packed fruit bomb. But with sophistication. The fruit is so generous and natural. Don't get the feeling it has been over extracted and luckily there is no over oaking. In fact the use of old big barrels puts the fruit afore. If you ever look for "baby fat" this is it. Tannins are subtle and there is just enough lift in the acids. Wonder how this will develop over time. Found mulberries/rotten strawberries and candied bananas in the nose, as well as some gamey notes and a slight hint of menthol in the ever so long aftertaste - nearly 1 minute.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2019 - Blauweiss Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big nose full of dark berries, plum, with a meaty background. Full bodied on the nose with massive fruit, but also a very elegant feeling. It never becomes heavy, lovely rich red.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2018 - Nilsenfr Likes this wine:
Falt for fristelsen. På karaffel 2 timer. Alt for ung. Gjerrig på lukt. Fruktig, medium fylde, godt integrerte tanniner. Siste glasset klart bedre. Nytt forsøk om 2-3 år.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2018 - Andre Brattland wrote: 93 Points
93% Shiraz og 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14,% alkohol. 12 måneder modning på gamle fat.
Rik og kraftig duftbilde med modne plommer, sødmefulle solbær og med pent floralt preg. Pent fyldig og bred vin med flott rik frukt. Saftige solbær, plommer og bjørnebær og herlig grafitt. Bra tanninstruktur. Lang og fin krydrete utgang. Veldig tiltalende og flott vin som har bevart friskheten sin på en god måte.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2018 - mooman Likes this wine: 94 Points
Young young but beautiful. Pure fruit with restraint and already integrated tannin. Unmistakable St Henri
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment