97/100
5 Stars
Huon Hooke
It's 10 years to the day since I last tasted this vintage, and this bottle at least (ex-Penfolds cellars) is fully mature and even a teensy bit past its prime, perhaps. What is beyond doubt is that it's still a great wine, handsomely complex and rewarding at the age of 46 years. Characteristic Schubert-era old leather boots, squashed-ant complexities abound, while the colour is thinning out a bit and is decidedly tawny in its tint, the tannins have mellowed out to a silky texture. The wine has wonderful balance and exudes magnificent character.
Tasted: 29/09/2017
Drink: 2017 to 2017
RP 92 points: "The 1971 St Henri is rather surprisingly looking a little fresher than the same vintage of Grange. It displays a deep brick color and pronounced coffee, earth, allspice and menthol notes with a loam and Chinese five spice undercurrent plus some old leather. Crisp in the mouth with medium-firm fine-grained tannins, it is concentrated, complex and quite gamey / meaty in the long finish. A sweaty saddle and iodine character begins to overwhelm over time in the glass, but it is still very good."
92 points. Source: Robert Parker (In Asia) "January, 2012" by Lisa Perrotti-Brown
note: this bottle may seep a bit during shipping, which is normal for older or ullaged bottles