Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2015

St Henri is a time-honoured and alternative expression of Shiraz, and an intriguing counterpoint to Grange. It is unusual among 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 as it ages. It is matured in old, large oak vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character. Although a small proportion of cabernet is sometimes used to improve structure, the focal point for St Henri remains shiraz.

"Deep, bright red/ purple with a bright, fresh-fruit aroma of blueberry, blackberry and spices, with a lick of aniseed and an earty overtone. As usual, its lacks the charry-oak and graphite note that other Penfolds shirazes possess. A lovely soft, rounded, fleshly shiraz, which is supple and smooth and yet full bodies as well, and structured for cellaring. Full-bodied and with a core of sweet fruit, this is a delicious shiraz. Succulent, indeed. I could drink it right now. (7% Cabernet Sauvignon) Drinking 2018-2045 Huon Hooke 96 Points"

93% shiraz, 7% cabernet sauvignon from McLaren Vale, Robe, The Peninsulas, Barossa Valley, Wrattonbully, Adelaide Hills and Mount Benson, matured for 12 months in 50+yo large oak vats. Deep crimson-purple; an almost tarry note lurks in the blackcurrant, tapenade and earth of the bouquet; there is a torrent of flavour, richer yet cooler than many '15s. Drink by 2045. 95 points James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion