2012 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri

Inky ruby. A highly complex smoke- and spice-accented bouquet evokes fresh dark berries, cherry liqueur, licorice, vanilla and incense. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering intense cherry-vanilla, floral pastille and succulent herbs flavors and a deft combination of richness and vivacity. Shows excellent focus and lift on a long, sweet finish framed by fine-grained, slowly building tannins. This bottling has a long track record for aging.

Released for the first time by Penfolds in the early 1950s (first commercial vintage 1957). 97% Shiraz, 3% Cabernet from Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Robe, and Clare Valley. 13 months in ancient large oak vats (over 50 years old). TA 6.7 g/l, pH 3.61. Very dark purple. Scented and intense. Some liquorice. Sweet start and then damn fine. Really quite majestic. No hurry to drink but no exaggeration either. Dry and fresh. Quite subtle with a hint of treacle toffee. (JR)

The 2012 Shiraz St Henri is very impressive with its elegant, sophisticated and well-crafted expression of this superb vintage. As always, there is no new oak employed here, simply 50+ year old large oak vats. This vintage has a dollop (3%) Cabernet Sauvignon, contributing a lovely cassis lift to the heady perfume. Deep garnet-purple colored, it displays a gorgeous nose of commendable purity and intensity with notes of red and blackcurrants, freshly crushed blackberries, menthol, cinnamon stick, bacon fat and cloves. Rich and already expressive on the palate, it is nonetheless built for the long haul with firm, ripe and grainy tannins carrying the fruit to a long and layered finish. This should be a long-lived St Henri that should cellar gracefully for at least 2 decades.