Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2010

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

Made from 100% Shiraz. Its fruit is multi-regional and hails from mainly the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale. Smaller portions of fruit come from Coonawarra, Adelaide Hills, Wrattonbully, and, the Clare Valley. Cross region blending is part of Australia’s wine history and although, the focus has shifted to terroir and single vineyards in recent times, many of these blends can be classified amongst the great wines of the world.

As with all vintages of St Henri, its features are so striking, that they need no enhancement or highlighting with new oak – something that is rare amongst high quality Australian red wines. Instead, the fruit-driven Shiraz is propelled by skin and seed tannins alone and matured for 18 months in old, 1460 litre oak vats. Whilst maturation in large old oak allows an alternative textural experience, it certainly doesn’t compromise longevity or stature.

First created in the 1950s, the inaugural commercial vintage was crafted in 1957 under the guidance of legendary Penfolds winemaker John Davoren, whose objective was to make ‘a genuine claret style’ wine that could be compared favourably with the greatest grand cru classé wines of Bordeaux. The development in the 1950s of Grange by Max Schubert and St Henri by John Davoren heralded a time of immense innovation at Penfolds. The success of Grange was very much enhanced by the contrasting St Henri style, and the two wines began life together in a climate of intense excitement, experimentation and research. Both were regarded as classic Penfolds wines and distinguished Australian reds within a decade of first release.

Although St Henri is now a Shiraz-dominant blend, the first trials were centred on Cabernet Sauvignon, Mataro and later Shiraz. By the 1970s St Henri was predominantly a Shiraz-Cabernet blend. The first vintages were reportedly foot-stomped in open-ended hogsheads, with a relatively high percentage of stalks retained in the vinification.

The 2010 Vintage

A consistent theme across South Australia was the healthy and above-average winter rainfall. This not only fuelled strong canopy framework but resulted in welcomed soil water reserves, safeguarding vines across the months that followed. Unswerving from the trend of the 2000s was an earlier budburst, flowering and harvest across Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and the south east. Whilst not without challenges from September hail and strong spring winds, Shiraz experienced relatively even set. A November hot spell and replenishing rain pushed the vines ahead in maturity. December temperatures were cooler than November, offering vines ideal growing conditions through to veraison in early January. Mild and dry ripening conditions were complimented by cool nights, with healthy vines yielding fruit that exhibited optimum flavour, and colour development, varietal typicity and vibrancy