Penfolds St. Henri 2005

#24 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2009

This is my second tasting of the Penfolds St. Henri 2005, the other time during the 1st Quarter of 2010, still the same brilliant wine I love so much.  I have also tasted the 2004 Vintage this year, but this note is about the 2005 Vintage I just opened today 06 October 2010


Winery: Penfolds

Country: Australia

Region: South

Varietal: Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage: 2005

Drink Date: up to 2020

Price: approx RM 239

Dark Purple and Deep.  Nose is Floral, Perfume, and Fresh.  Fragrant Smell.  Blackcurrant and Lemon.  Lacy and Silky.  Sexy.  Long.  Balance.  14% Alc.

The moment it enters your mouth, the flavour just takes off.  Long and Alive.  Certainly will improve with proper cellaring.  A wine that is worth keeping.  

There’s also 10% Cabernet this year too, which is nice to see.

Penfolds St. Henri is a counterpoint to Penfolds Grange. St. Henri is a highly successful, alternative expression of Shiraz. It is unusual among high quality Australian red wines as it does not rely on new oak. It was created in the mid-1950s (first commercial vintage 1957) and gained a new lease of life in the 1990s as its quality and distinctive style became better understood.

Penfolds St. Henri is rich and plush when young and gains soft, earthy, mocha-like characters as it ages. It is matured in old, 1460-litre vats that allow the wine to develop, but imparting no oak character. The focal point for St. Henri is Shiraz.