St Henri Vertical

[Mike Hawkins]

Back in town for a short visit, so caught up with some of the boys for a St Henri vertical. In short, the wines all performed well.

1986… the wine that got me into wine. Violets, chocolate on the nose with a real Cabernet mouthfeel and taste. excellent length and drying tannins. Superb wine and better than the previous two samples. Best consumed soon.

1990… another with Cabernet notes, particularly tobacco. Richer than the 86, but lacked its length. Lovely velvety finish. A few years of good drinking left.

1994… proof this really is ‘the Penfolds vintage’. Chocolate and cedar on the nose, with decent length and resolved tannins. Better than I expected.

1996…. I’ve had this a few times and I think Penfolds got it wrong. Bit simple and short.

1998… despite fruit being pillaged for RWT, this is an excellent wine and in really good spot. Quite primary all things considered.

2004… noticeably richer in flavours than its older siblings. Beautiful fruit profile but just a touch of heat on the long finish.

2010…. Lived up to the hype of the vintage. Lots of plum and chocolate notes, and again, this was very primary. It will be a good wine with time, though not 100 points for my tastes.

2012… I missed this one.

2014….. I expected an average, unbalanced wine but was pleasantly surprised. Telltale Penfolds crushed ants on the nose. Nice primary fruit, with ok length.

2016… pretty closed. Another with VA. Seemed a touch more advanced than the 2014. Palate fatigue had well and truly set in by now.

2017…. I decided to skip this one.


This was a fun tasting, proving famous vintages tend to produce the goods. 86, 10, 90 were my favourites.

[Ian S]

Thanks for these notes. I still have 5 bottles of the 2004, pretty much the last time I bought Pennies wines. IIRC it was sold off at just over £20 a bottle, in the last throes of (UK supermarket) Sainsbury's attempt at 'fine wine', so 7 bottles went in the shopping basket . I drank one about 6 years ago, and made a vague promise to bury the others in the cellar. It seems I might have missed the boat on this label remaining 'elegant', but I'm hoping it's still solid in the cellar.

[phillisc]

Thanks for the notes Mike.
Despite the 100 point hype for the 2010, glad to have a sixer in the hole. Think they cost me $60 each, will look at one in the next few years.
Cheers Craig

[Wine2day]

Fyi:

Lisa from WA gave the 2010 a 97, with full maturity at 20:30