Dense, dark red with a very dark core. The bouquet is intense, dense and spicy - notes of nutmeg, lavender, rosemary and musk with evocative wafts of black and red liquorice arising. Some floral aromas are present, although assorted fruits dominate with glazed cherries, prune (fruitcake mixture) to the fore. Close inspection reveals aged pipe tobacco and roasted lamb juice and quince complexities. The palate is, in a word, exceptional! Everything demanded of a top-notch St. Henri palate is delivered. The ripe, rounded and finely textured tannins, courted by vibrant (zingy) acidity, certainly induce a youthful disposition. Medium-dark cherry fruits are complexed by cold roasted lamb and black pudding flavours - layered and dense.

PENFOLDS St. Henri is a highly successful and alternative expression of Shiraz and an intriguing counterpoint to Grange. It is unusual among high quality Australian red wines as it does not rely on any new oak. It was created in the early 1950s (first commercial vintage 1957) and gained a new lease of life in the 1990s as its quality and distinctive style became better understood. St Henri is rich and plush when young, gaining soft, earthy, mocha-like characters as it ages. It is matured in old, 1460-litre vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character. Although a small proportion of Cabernet is sometimes used to improve structure, the focal point for St Henri remains Shiraz.