The Wine Advocate reviews of the icons of the Penfolds range are always widely anticipated. As one of the world’s most influential wine magazines, a high scoring Wine Advocate review can move markets. Indeed, last year Penfolds raised the price of the 2008 Penfolds Grange on the back of its 100 point review by the Wine Advocate’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown! (see my post Penfolds Grange 2008 and the 100 point review)
This year the spotlight has moved to the excellent reviews for the Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2010. The Wine Advocate’s Lisa Perotti-Brown gave the vintage its highest score to date, 97+:
Very deep purple-black in color and showing an attractive nose of warm blackcurrants, blueberries and licorice with a complex undercurrent of mocha, cedar, menthol and grilled meat, the full-bodied 2010 St Henri Shiraz is relatively rich in the mouth, offering tons of fruit structured by firm, fine tannins and refreshing acid. It finishes with great persistence. Drink it 2015 to 2030+ (eRobertParker.com #211 Feb 2014)
Julia Harding MW, wine reviewer for JancisRobinson.com, was also very enthusiastic, scoring the wine 18 out of 20:
‘Demands silence’, says Gago (at last, I thought). Delicate and fine aroma, blueberry, mulberry and sweet spice but peppery red fruited too. Juicy core enfolded by dry firm tannins, savoury and juicy. Very distinctive. No new oak. ‘A continnuum of flavour’ says Gago, who thinks it will rival the 1990 and the 1971. Effortless concentration. There’s a savoury and chocolate finish. And smoky spice. Powerful but refined. All fruit-derived tannins. Fabulous fruit. (JancisRobinson.com, 28 February 2014)
The St Henri is often described as a counterpoint to Grange, an alternative expression of shiraz that can age just as well. Its origins date back to 1911, when it was the star offering of … Read the rest