St Henri Shiraz 2018 - Penfolds - 750ml

Penfolds Wine was established 150 years ago and continues to impress national and international customers for their wonderful red wine.

St. Henri is a multi-district blend with Shiraz from the Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, the foothills of the Adelaide Hills, and Langhorne Creek. Cabernet Sauvignon, gives structure and  density to the St. Henri style - is sourced from the Barossa Valley, Coonawarra and Bordertown.

This 2018 vintage can be classified as an elegant, perfumed style based on fruit definition and maturation in old Oak.

Food matches:

-          Pork cauliflour cream, confit turnip, morcilla, fennel seed and spiced quince puree

-          Hickory smoked beef fillet

-          Pork & duck rillette

VINTAGE CONDITIONS:

Near-optimum rainfall over winter, followed by dry, mild conditions over spring provided  a good environment for budburst and an ideal start to the  growing season with canopies developing well. Climatic conditions favoured flowering and set with mild and calm weather, however there was some shatter in Shiraz across parts of the state resulting in small crops for many regions. Some healthy early to mid-December summer rainfall was followed by conditions drying up very quickly and continuing until the end of February. Summer was hot with some extreme heat but cool conditions returned in February and March, allowing the fruit to ripen across a long harvest with balanced acidities and excellent tannin ripeness. Maritime or elevated regions such as Robe and Adelaide Hills performed exceptionally well, escaping some of the temperature extremes.

COLOUR:

Cherry red with a magenta rim.

NOSE:

Initially exudes giveaway St Henri cues—praline, fruit pastille, red licorice, violet…

Followed by Kirsch, Campari, Bitters, Cranberry and Radish.

Yet there are other aromas linked to variety/vineyard(s)/vintage—initially, Shiraz spices incl. cinnamon, nutmeg.

Then a spray of kirsch, campari, bitters, cranberry and radish.

PALATE:

Compact and restrained/ medium-bodied wine - offering lightness/silkiness/softness/elegance. Granular tannins and acidity contentedly usher an admirable textural demeanour across the front, middle and back-palate.

VINEYARD REGIONS:

Robe, Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, Wrattonbully, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale.

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