Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2009 750ml

Wine Advocate #205, Feb 28, 2013 by Lisa perotti-Brown
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2009 St Henri Shiraz is slated for release on May 1, 2013. It is a little closed at the moment though reveals earthy aromas of warm berries, some mulberries and Chinese dried plums over notes of meat, black olive, coffee and tree bark. Richly concentrated and complex with layered, savory flavors, it is structured by firm, grainy tannins and is finishing long. It needs time to develop further. Drink it from 2015 to 2025+.

With over 165 years of winemaking experience, the Penfolds winemaking tradition is both firmly established and well proven. It is a way of life; no more evident than in the fact that most members of the winemaking team have worked over twenty vintages each at Penfolds.
Experience has created a tradition of excellence, which in turn has led to the production of quality Australian wines, recognised the world over.
Penfolds has managed to create a truly unique and distinctive winemaking signature the Penfolds stamp, of which every member of the Penfolds winemaking team is immensely and justifiably proud.
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. It was created in the early 1950s and gained a new lease of life in the 1990s as its quality and distinctive style became better understood. St Henri is rich and plush when young, gaining soft, earthy, mocha-like characters as it ages. It is matured in old, 1460 litre 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.

Meats, Beef and Venison