St Henri Shiraz 2019 (Penfolds)

Drink now or cellar for up to 25 years. Decant 2 hours before serving. Penfolds are best known for producing Australia’s iconic Grange, a powerful red that’s widely considered to be one of the finest wines in the world. The winery was originally founded back in 1844 aby English emigrants Dr. Christopher Penfold and his wife Mary who brought with them vine cuttings from France. Since then the estate has blossomed into Australia’s premier winery with a string of exceptional cuvees under their belt like this magnificent Shiraz. Unlike Grange and many other top Australian reds, St Henri is unusual in that it isn’t aged in new oak barrels. This cuvee was first released by Penfolds in the early 1950s, the era of their legendary winemaker Max Schubert who first created the Grange. Fruit is carefully selected from prime vineyards in Barossa, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, and the Adelaide Hills, and the young wine ages in large wooden casks that are over 50 years old. The result is a plush and rich red that’s bursting with luscious dark fruit notes including cassis, dark plums, and crushed blackberries. There are subtle hints of toast and spice on the long finish from the limited oak influence which will deepen into soft, earthy notes as the wine ages. A solid backbone and well-built structure make this a great wine to cellar for a couple more decades, although it can also be enjoyed now alongside hearty red meat dishes.