2018 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri
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Tasting notes
The finest vintage I've ever tasted, surpassing even the incredible 2016 (time will tell, anyways), the 2018 Shiraz St. Henri is, as always, a multi-region blend yet is mostly Barossa Shiraz, and the aging is always in larger oak vats. (Don't tell anyone, but I often prefer St. Henri to Grange.) The 2018 is absolutely brilliant, revealing a saturated purple hue to go with a smorgasbord-like array of ripe blueberries, mulberries, iron, lavender, sage, and ground pepper. It has an almost bloody, salty character and is full-bodied, massively concentrated, opulent, and rich yet stays flawlessly balanced, has sweet tannins, and has a great finish. It's certainly more open and assessable compared to the 2016 at this same stage, but this awesome Shiraz will evolve gracefully for another 2-3 decades, if not longer. Bravo.
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
One of the five best vintages of St Henri of the last 70 years, according to Peter Gago. Meaty and luscious with juicy black fruit that has incredible purity. Full and furry with extraordinary length. Not as austere as it can be – absolutely open and gratifying, in fact. (RH)
Full bottle 1,520 g. Fruit from Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Port Lincoln, Robe, Padthaway, Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills. Matured for 12 months in >50-year-old vats. Just penetrable purple with lots of blue tinges. Rich, ripe, complex nose that beckons you in to the glass. Amazingly there is some real freshness to this wine, even thought there are other elements to it that remind me of a liqueur. It's certainly a hit, with both immediate appeal and obvious potential for long ageing. Long and rather glorious without being too hot or weighed down by alcohol. No shortage of tannins but the fruit stands up to them. (JR)
A great St. Henri and, although multi-regional, this is very much a wine that speaks of the Barossa Valley, with aromas of ripe blackberries and red plums that are so fresh, together with tobacco, young-leather, earth, chocolate, coal-smoke and tarry accents. Effortless depth on the palate with summer berries, framed in fine, alabaster-like tannins that are underscored with discreet power. So long and captivating. A blend of Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Port Lincoln, Robe, Padthaway, Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills. Drink over the next decade or more. Screw cap.
About the producer
Penfolds is Australia’s most famous wine producer, known best for their iconic top wine, Grange. First produced commercially in 1952, Grange has since gone on to become one of the world’s most famous fine wines. In 2001, the wine was listed as an Australian heritage icon.