Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2008 6x75cl

Almost as iconic an icon as the Grange, St Henri appeared in 1957 as a counterpoint to Grange, with no oak influence, aged as it is in huge, 50-year-old wooden vats. In 2008 around 9% Cabernet Sauvignon joins the Shiraz in the blend. Dense and dark on the nose, there is a fine, curranty character and enticing blueberry fruit. It has depth, but it has brightness too with a delicious mouth-feel and real life and energy. The tannins are fine but rounded, but there’s so much juicy, plum and sweet blackberry fruit flooding the mid-palate. Big and bold, and structured too.

95/100 Wine Advocate

The 2008 St. Henri Shiraz is a blend of 90% Shiraz and 10% Cabernet. Peter Gago said that 90% of Barossa fruit was picked well before 3rd March before the heat wave. Still, it is patently more gregarious, outgoing and voluptuous than the 2007 with copious layers of black cherry, cassis, cedar and just a hint of fresh beetroot. The palate is full-bodied with a dense carapace of primal blackberry and cassis fruit. This is a little monolithic at the moment but it is well balanced and offers great delineation, which renders it controlled and refined on the powerful finish when it could have been overwhelming. Looking back, the 2008 errs towards Bordeaux for inspiration.