Penfolds St. Henri 2001

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from klwines.com

2001 Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz Shiraz

According to Robert Parker: "The deep ruby/purple-hued 2001 Shiraz St. Henri offers sweet aromas of raspberries and flowers. This accessible, concentrated, medium-bodied, impeccably-balanced Shiraz possesses excellent fruit as well as background earth and wood notes. Consume it over the next 10 years." (10/05) Penfolds St Henri is a counterpoint to Penfolds Grange. St Henri is a highly successful, alternative expression of Shiraz. It is unusual among high quality Australian red wines as it does not rely on new oak. It was created in the mid-1950s (first commercial vintage 1957) and gained a new lease of life in the 1990s as its quality and distinctive style became better understood. Penfolds St Henri is rich and plush when young and gains soft, earthy, mocha-like characters as it ages. It is matured in old, 1460-litre vats that allow the wine to develop, but impart no oak character. A small proportion of Cabernet is often used to improve structure, but the focal point for Penfolds St Henri is Shiraz.