Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2019 375ml
The Wine
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. 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, 1,460 litre vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character.
97 Pts Nick Stock, jamessuckling.com 'Immediately spicy and complex, this has a rich blackberry and dark-plum nose, together with dark-chocolate and tarry, earthy elements. The palate has a very rich, fleshy feel with such ripe dark-plum, dark-chocolate, blackberry and mulberry flavors on offer. Generous, yet balanced. A South Australian blend of McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Padthaway, Wrattonbully and The Peninsulas. Drink or hold.'
98 Pts Tony Love, Wine Pilot 'This can only ever be a stylistic expression of the shiraz variety, as sourcing from six SA districts eliminates regionality. (For the record, The Peninsulas is a defined GI region, this fruit coming from the outskirts of Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula.) The wine's point of difference within the Penfolds range is that it has no new oak maturation and spends only 12 months in large format seasoned vats. The result is a sophisticated, dark, almost mysterious shiraz, a wine with secrets within that one suspects will reveal great joys over the next 20 to 30 years, as its forebears have proved for more than half a century. For now, in and around the black fruits there are flint, mushroom, licorice and roast meat notes. Plenty to unpack. A serious SA shiraz that remains a really enticing proposition.'
The Details
Variety - Shiraz
Country - Australia
Region - South Australia
Sub Region - McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Padthaway, Wrattonbully and The Peninsulas
Extra - Screw Cap
Year - 2019
Volume - 375mls
About the Wine Maker 
Since 1844, Penfolds has built its reputation on experimentation, curiosity and an unwavering commitment to quality. The story began with founders Dr Christopher and Mary Penfold, whose pioneering work with tonics, brandies and fortified wines laid the foundation for one of Australia’s most influential wine estates. Their legacy was carried forward by visionary winemakers such as Alf Vesey, Ray Beckwith and Max Schubert, whose bold innovations propelled Penfolds to international acclaim.
Nearly two centuries later, that same pioneering spirit continues to define Penfolds. Guided by a lineage of forward‑thinking winemakers, the estate has become one of the world’s most celebrated producers, recognised for its distinctive style, technical excellence and relentless pursuit of greatness.
