The Auswine Forum

I have an opportunity to purchase a six pack of this wine and am wondering if anyone might have an opinion on it and it's potential longevity. Also while I'm at it, are there any opinions on the 01 Rosemount GSM?
Thanks
joe

Needs lots of time. I have had it twice over the past year and both times it was totaly closed. The 1999 is drinking great right now. I am not touching my 98's for at least 5 more years. Depending on the price I would buy. It sells here in Canada for $45 Canadian.

Thanks, Rick! I've noted that Wine Enthusiast puts the drink window 2008 thru 2020. Lots of nice reviews on the wine and at $32.00 here in the states, I'm going to buy.

josephjr wrote:Thanks, Rick! I've noted that Wine Enthusiast puts the drink window 2008 thru 2020. Lots of nice reviews on the wine and at $32.00 here in the states, I'm going to buy.

Hi Joseph,

Long time no hear. Good move on the St Henri but make sure you cellar them. The 98 will be wasted if drunk early.

This was my tasting note from last year - I don't think it would have changed too much since then:

1998 Penfolds St Henri Like the 1999, no crusting, and quite closed at first, with hints of smoked meats, aniseed, opening up to some violets. With futher breathing, the bouquet opens and closes, oscillating between dark chocolate, smoky meats, pretty violets, and fresh blackberries in varying strengths at any time. The palate follows the same theme; smoked meats, aniseed, dark chocolate, blackberries, hints of soy, and some eucalyptus and musk, with the perfumed intensity almost breathing in and out like a live beast. The structure is very approachable, and the very fine tannins drive a pleasant, long finish, that you just know will get even better with age. Just maybe a little better than the 1999, but somehow the memory of that sexy 1996 still seems just that bit better again. (14/7/2003)

Cheers
Ian

TORB wrote:Hi Joseph,

Long time no hear. Good move on the St Henri but make sure you cellar them. The 98 will be wasted if drunk early.

Peter Gago said last year that he would not be opening any of his 98 St Henri for at least a dozen years and he believed quite strongly that they would go for a long while after that also.
So as TORB said, I would put them away for awhile before opening.
As a side note; I still have a case on order at $42pb to go along with the dozen or so bottles I have already

Cheers
Popov

Anyone have notes or a link to info on blind tasting of the 1998?

I ask because the 1998 is available over here for $30US/btl from Trader Joe's (known for their variety of foodstuffs, value, and cheap wine), and it just seems to be sittting on the shelves. Either that or they have an unlimited supply, which I doubt as my local wine shop gets limited access to St Henri. I never saw the 1998 there and their initial supply of the 1999 was a six pack which I snapped up.

The bottle of 1998 that I did taste was certainly very dumb (=closed), and I was not terribly impressed, but then it was opened very soon after purchase and so I'm letting the others rest a little before opening another.

Mike

Mike,

Most years I try and avoid tasting St Henri when its released. The reason is that it never shows all that well when young (99 being the possible exception) so when I used to taste them on release I never bought them.

However, at years of age they are far better. So now I generally just buy some and pull them out when they are 10 and have never been disappointed.

Hey Torb! Hope your trip went well. I haven't had time to read this week's installment. I checked the Penfolds site on the 98 Henri.
Nose
Very subtle and highly appealing, oscillating between ripe damson fruits, earthy, smoked meats and delicate, lifted perfumes. Many layers of complex aromas open out of the wine as it sits in the glass.
Palate
Concentrated and tight with dark, intense summer berry fruits forming a rich ball of flavour on the tongue and offering plenty of depth and palate length. There are fine ripe tannins that extend into a well structured velvety texture, with waves of perfume, warm spices and berries running thru the finish. Many hallmarks of a very fine wine indeed, akin to the 1990 upon release. Sounds good enough to eat!
Cheers
joe

How about the 96 and 97? Do you feel they are worth opening yet? I have 96 - 00 and just wondered the best drop to have on Saturday

graham wrote:How about the 96 and 97? Do you feel they are worth opening yet? I have 96 - 00 and just wondered the best drop to have on Saturday

Graham,

I am drinking my 86-93 at the moment.

Just recieved my case of the Henri, with a paper label. The winery website has it packaged with a lazer-etched bottle since the 1996 vintage. Has me wondering if something is not amiss or if they may have a different label for export. It seems that this wine is just now being released here in the states. This discrepancy bothers me just abit. Any insight on this question?

graham wrote:How about the 96 and 97? Do you feel they are worth opening yet? I have 96 - 00 and just wondered the best drop to have on Saturday

97 is drinking nicely now. Good effort from Penfolds from an average vintage, 96 is the pick of the bunch but will continue to improve, 98 is closed at present and 99 is approachable - it's like the 97 in that it drinks better young than the average St Henri, but a more powerful wine. But really, hold on to 'em if you can muster up the patience.

josephjr wrote:Just recieved my case of the Henri, with a paper label. The winery website has it packaged with a lazer-etched bottle since the 1996 vintage. Has me wondering if something is not amiss or if they may have a different label for export. It seems that this wine is just now being released here in the states. This discrepancy bothers me just abit. Any insight on this question?

Joe, I think the laser etching refers to a small security code near the bottom of the bottle, not the label itself - what you describe sounds like the bottles I've bought since 1996. I've been asked for this code when getting corked bottles replaced,

cheers

Andrew

Andrew, thanks for the heads-up on the etching. I checked the bottles and found the code you refered to. Have never heard of this, but it would seem a good way to track and identify problematic bottles. Now we'll just let them rest for several years and hope for the best.
joe

FatBoy wrote:

graham wrote:How about the 96 and 97? Do you feel they are worth opening yet? I have 96 - 00 and just wondered the best drop to have on Saturday

97 is drinking nicely now. Good effort from Penfolds from an average vintage, 96 is the pick of the bunch but will continue to improve, 98 is closed at present and 99 is approachable - it's like the 97 in that it drinks better young than the average St Henri, but a more powerful wine. But really, hold on to 'em if you can muster up the patience.

Thankyou for advice. I'll be patient and wait. I've just brought my 2000 quota but heard it was a poor vintage with no real cellar potential. Is this the case