Wine Advisor
Penfolds, St Henri Shiraz 2006
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the LWTF. This is the 50th commercial release, sourced from Barossa (90%) and McClaren Vale (10%). It has a ripe mulberry, raspberry and cranberry nose that is masked by a bit of alcohol, but it improves with aeration with touches of black olive. The palate is full-bodied, very dense with a generous dash of white pepper over the succulent fruit with hints of wild mint and hung game. Grippy tannins towards the finish, this St. Henri packs a punch and is one of Penfolds’ stars of the vintage. Tasted May 2010.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the “Rewards of Patience” vertical in Berlin. The 2006 St. Henri Shiraz is a blend of 89% Shiraz and 11% Cabernet. It has an intriguing bouquet that is cut from a different cloth to the previous two vintages. It is more floral and feminine, with dried rose petals, vanilla, liquorice and wild strawberry. The palate is silky smooth and sensual on the entry, indeed, this is a St. Henri that sets out to caress and seduce. There is a cheeky tang of salted liquorice on the finish and grippy dry tannins dominating the finish. This has great potential and what I admire is that it adheres completely and unreservedly to the St. Henri style. Drink 2018-2045. Tasted June 2012.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Blended of 89% Shiraz and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2006 St Henri Shiraz is a blend of 5 different South Australia sub-regions spanning from Robe to Clare Valley. Never seeing new oak, this vintage was aged 15 months in seasoned 1460 liter vats. Very deep garnet-purple colored, it has a purely fruited nose giving notes of intense cassis, crushed blackberries, some kirsch, black pepper, baking spices and cloves. Full, rich and concentrated, it’s still a bit taut with very crisp acid and firm finely textured tannins, giving a long berry laced finish. Consider drinking it from 2013 to 2025+. With a lot of changes happening around the Foster’s Group, it is business as usual at Penfolds…which seems to operate within its own world. But this is no small world. The vineyard holdings here are vast and the connections with growers go back generations. Chief winemaker Peter Gago is the very well spoken front-man for the production team backed-up Kym Schroeter in charge of the whites and Steve Lienert crafting some very fine, consistent and sometimes inspired reds. If Champagne is all about the art of blending, then Penfolds is the Champagne of Australian wine. Those that think large companies producing wines that emphasize blending can’t make great wines need to think about the Champagne model or simply try some of Penfolds top wines to become believers. That said – check out their recent single vineyard release: the very special 2004 Block 42 Kalimna Cabernet Sauvignon, the first release of a wine made purely from this 100+ year old single block (perhaps the oldest block of Cabernet in the world?) since 1996. Importer: Foster’s Wine Estates Americas, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-4500
About the Producer
Since 1844, Penfolds has played a pivotal role in the evolution of wine making with a history and heritage that profoundly reflects Australia’s journey from colonial settlement to the modern era. Penfolds collection of benchmark wines were established in a spirit of innovation and the constant and endless pursuit of quality, evidenced from the secret bottling of Grange in 1951 and the unbroken line of vintages of what is now arguably Australia’s most iconic red wine. Today, the collection continues to display the distinctive and consistently recognisable Penfolds ‘House Style’; the ultimate expression of Penfolds time-honoured tradition of sourcing the best fruit from the best regions. Historic blends, significant milestones and heritage vineyards have been honoured by a lineage of custodians whose courage and imagination, precision and humility have ensured Penfolds remains true to its original values while remaining relevant for current and future generations. The stories and philosophies behind each label bring a timeless quality, making Penfolds wines special and compelling for collectors and drinkers the world over.