1999 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 750ml

Overview

Penfolds St Henri is one of Australia's distinctive and enduring expressions of Shiraz. A multi-regional South Australian wine, St Henri stands apart within the Penfolds portfolio for its traditional maturation in large, seasoned oak vessels, allowing fruit character to take precedence over new oak influence. Its established style and ageing ability have made it a favourite among Penfolds collectors.

Vintage

Generally dry and cool conditions during early summer were interrupted by a hot spell in late January, before moderate conditions returned during vintage. Multi-regional sourcing and strong vineyard management delivered parcels with hallmark fruit sweetness and ripe tannins.

Winemaking & Maturation

The 1999 vintage was matured for 12 months in large, old oak casks. This restrained approach to oak is central to the St Henri style, placing emphasis on Shiraz fruit, texture and development in bottle rather than overt oak character.

Producer Tasting Notes

Penfolds: “Deep, dark red. … Upon opening, aromas of cold meats and freshly baked panaforte interweave with a pure-fruited expression of Shiraz, unadorned by any discernable traces of oak. With breathing, glacier fruit, spice and savoury nuances ascend. … A textbook St Henri with ripened raspberry and nectarine fruits coupled with finely textured grainy tannins that roll off the tongue. Masses of fruit flavours peak on the mid to back palate with depth, concentration and softness.”

Critic Reviews

95/100 — Jeremy Oliver
Tasted January 2003
Drinking Window: 2011–2019

94/100 — The Wine Front

91/100 — Wine Enthusiast
“This Shiraz is aged in enormous old oak vats and so doesn't offer the toasty, caramelly flavors that we often associate with Oz Shiraz. Instead, the fruit speaks for itself—the palate is showing mostly black plum and black cherry, with chewy tannins and a little earthiness on the finish. Toast can sometimes be a good thing, but St. Henri is where I hide out when I've got the new-wood blues.”
Tasted January 2003

91/100 — Gismondi on Wine
“St. Henri is an elegant, multi-district shiraz that is based on Barossa fruit. Since its original 1957 release St Henri has lived in the shadows of the bigger Penfolds red but throughout the last decade it has begun to regain respect for its purity of fruit and style - there is no new oak used here. Open savoury/spicy/peppery, rootsy, black cherry nose with a touch of eucalyptus. Rich round, fine grained tannins with big menthol, black raspberry fruit and sausage meat, tobacco flavours.”
Tasted April 2004

Specifications

• Vintage: 1999
• Grape Variety: Shiraz
• Region: South Australia, Australia
• Alcohol: 14%
• Sweetness: Dry
• Maturation: 12 months in large, old oak casks
• Winemaker: Peter Gago
• Drinking Window: 2003–2019