St Henri Shiraz 2023 Penfolds - OWC6

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
97 punten
Straight on the first aromatics you get a punch of violet flowers and cherry bud, earthy, fragrant, long lasting, love this sweet charred raspberry puree that expands through the palate. Peter Gago winemaker, Tom King director.

Wine Advocate
96 punten
The 2023 St. Henri Shiraz was sourced from McLaren Vale (55%), Barossa Valley (21%), Frankland River (8%) and the balance from Port Lincoln and Padthaway. 2023 is the first time that Shiraz was sourced from Frankland River for the St. Henri, and this is significant, given it is Western Australia, when most of the fruit for the cuvées traditionally are sourced from the eastern states. To lend this comment context: 2023 was a cooler, wetter season in Barossa, a cooler season in McLaren Vale, and yet over in the west, it has shaped up to be one of the very best, most balanced, most energetic vintages in recent memory. So here, the 2023 St. Henri Shiraz is silky and fine, balanced and herbal, with star anise and shaved fennel, raspberry, milk chocolate, violets and freshness. It is really excellent. These current St. Henri's are very different in style to the early iterations of the cuvée, yet they manage to express a similar effortlessness and ease. I would say, on balance, that the alcohols are higher than the wines from the 1980s and before, yet the tannins are very polished and cleverly managed. I think this serves to set them apart or, at least, to create two schools of stylistic thinking—I am, for what it's worth, a fan of both. It matured for 12 months in large-format seasoned oak vats. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.

Falstaff
96 punten
A dense, alluring bouquet of small black berries, light tobacco, subtle notes of dried mint, ripe blueberries, and cardamom. Rich and juicy, with plenty of sweet tannins, good structure, a fine, delicate acidity, dense, ripe dark berry fruit, plums, blackberries, dried herbs, and ripe cranberries on the finish; long.

James Suckling
96 punten
There's a real elegance and charm here, with the cooler vintage showing through in black and blue berries, plum, sweet spice, ferrous earth and dried herbs. The palate is plush and silky with a metallic-edged austerity, rounded out by silky tannins and bright acidity. Lovely tension and purity, with plenty more to unravel with time in bottle. Drink or hold.

The Wine Cellar Insider
96 punten
(South Australia; 100% Shiraz; sourced from McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Frankland River, Port Lincoln and Padthaway; aged for 12 months in large already used foudres; pH 3.63; 14.5% alcohol; tasted with Peter Gago at the Penfolds Collection press tasting in Paris and then again at Joanne’s hors Bordeaux press tasting). Very true to his identity (despite accommodating fruit from Frankland River, Port Lincoln and Padthaway) St Henri is in fine fettle in 2023! Smoky, spicy, fresh, yet very compact and dense with considerable layered. Gamey. Juniper and black pepper. Ample, but not overly so. But with massive vertical range. Intensely succulent. Saline and mineral. Limpid and strikingly dynamic in and through the mid-palate. Limpid and lithe. Fluid, despite the density and amplitude. Lifted and fresh on the finish.

Jancis Robinson
17/20 punten
Fine, lifted aromatic bramble fruit, a touch of camphor, some ‘old-cellar’ aromas, sweet, dried mushroom, and leather. Wonderfully ‘old-fashioned’ and true to style: all open-textured, surprisingly ‘elegant’ (still lots of presence and flavour here), with an evenness and harmony to the tannins. A St Henri for earlier enjoyment.