2012 St. Henri Shiraz

An 'old school' St Henri … Smaller berry and bunch sizes were noticeable in most regions.

This, coupled with favourable weather conditions, induced great results for traditional quality markers – colour, tannin profile, fruit concentration and flavour depth.

Peter Gago, Penfolds chief winemaker

96+/100

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.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, www.erobertparker.com, September 2015

98/100

James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com, November 2015