Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2022

"A classical St Henri. A great follow-up to the stellar 2021 vintage. Outstanding." Andrew Caillard MW
"One of the greats." Tyson Stelzer
"There is tremendous power and intensity, with the structure to handle long-term cellaring." Ray Jordan
"The 2022 St Henri Shiraz is a magnificent wine." Erin Larkin
"Utterly mesmerising. Complete, thrillingly balanced and sumptuously rewarding." Matthew Jukes 
"This is a fantastic St Henri." Campbell Mattinson
"A beautifully judged St Henri - classical, understated, and deeply satisfying." Tom Kline

St Henri is a time-honoured and alternative expression of Shiraz, and an intriguing counterpoint to Grange. It is unusual among high quality Australian red wines as it does not rely on any new oak. Released for the first time by Penfolds in the early 1950s (first commercial vintage 1957), it gained a new lease of life in the 1990s as its quality and distinctive style became better understood. Proudly, a wine style that hasn't succumbed to the dictates of fashion or commerce. St Henri is rich and plush when young, gaining soft, earthy, mocha-like characters as it ages. It is matured in old, 1,460 litre vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character. Although a small proportion of Cabernet is sometimes used to improve structure, the focal point for St Henri remains Shiraz. 

"This is an utterly mesmerising St. Henri. It is complete, thrillingly balanced and sumptuously rewarding. It might be the most immediately enjoyable St. Henri of all time! Rich, dark, mellow and superbly well-appointed, this is a crowd-pleaser with little visible astringency or muscle. Instead, this mille-feuille of red, blue, black and purple fruit is sensational, and it will enchant all-comers with its epic allure and precociousness. While we can dive into this pool now, the engine, which purrs away in the core, will keep this wine ticking over for at least three decades."  Matthew Jukes

"The abiding character of St Henri is its longevity, particularly in the context of better vintages. It has none of the make-up of new American oak that can hide the imperfections of a lesser vintage. A great St Henri will come into its own in a bare minimum of 10 years, and live long thereafter."  James Halliday 

The 2022 Penfolds St Henri is 96% Shiraz with 4% Cabernet Sauvignon from premium vineyards in Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Padthaway. It was aged for 14 months in large seasoned oak vats.

"Instantly, recognisable as St Henri. The absence of new oak is a defining feature, a gentle swirl brings forth a pure expression of Shiraz. A joyous and ethereal fruit lift… First, raspberries, freezedried and dusted over coconut sponge. A scoop of wild berry gelato provides another layer of complexity. Closer inspection reveals scents of freshly-roasted coffee beans and cinnamon tea cake. With a little air, savoury notes emerge. Carpaccio-like freshness, replete with marinated olives, peppers, and brine.

On the palate, the wine has a real presence, weighty yet buoyant. It has stature and confidence. There is a complex assortment of flavours vying for attention. Hazelnuts, macadamia, white chocolate, and Dutch liquorice are first noted. There is a lovely fruit saturation, reminiscent of Kir Royale cocktail, summer berry pudding, and melted chocolate. The tannins are ripe, fully integrated, and effortlessly anchor the fruit. A classic St Henri that delivers in the full flush of youth but promises so much more for those inclined to cellar this wine for a few decades. Peak Drinking: Now – 2050."  Penfolds

Expert reviews

"This is an utterly mesmerising St. Henri. It is complete, thrillingly balanced and sumptuously rewarding. It might be the most immediately enjoyable St. Henri of all time! Rich, dark, mellow and superbly well-appointed, this is a crowd-pleaser with little visible astringency or muscle. Instead, this mille-feuille of red, blue, black and purple fruit is sensational, and it will enchant all-comers with its epic allure and precociousness. While we can dive into this pool now, the engine, which purrs away in the core, will keep this wine ticking over for at least three decades."  Matthew Jukes - 19/20 points 

"Deep crimson. Intense dark cherry, blackberry, roasted walnut, mocha praline, hint of wax varnish aromas. Beautifully concentrated dark cherry, blackberry pastille, dark chocolate flavours, superb slinky firm bittersweet tannins, lovely inky density and well-integrated fresh acidity. Claret-firm at the finish. A classical St Henri. A great follow-up to the stellar 2021 vintage. Outstanding."  Andrew Caillard MW - 98 points

"There is an immediate allure to St Henri 2022, announced with the signature gloss and grace that is uniquely St Henri on a bouquet of magnificent black fruits of all kinds, violets and dark chocolate that speaks more of place than of method. There is a harmony and composure to this blend that speak of a temperate season in the Barossa and mild in McLaren Vale, producing moderate crops of natural balance. I love the expansive mood of large vessel maturation, setting a transparency, detail and harmony of effortless flow. Firm, fine tannins carry a long and graceful finish. One of the greats. Drink: 2042-2057."  Tyson Stelzer - 97 points 

"As if someone has been distilling fruit to its truest essence, this wine is putting on a show on its own. Concentrated boysenberries, Java plums, and blueberries until it walks down into a road peppered with ferrous, leathery, turned earth, peppercorn, and Nicaraguan cigar elements. The velvety tannins and fruit roll along the way together, creating an electrical by-product as they move through. The movement then hits the back of the palate and stays there, almost as if suspended in mid-air. That is where the seriousness and durability of this wine lie."  Lisa Cardelli, Wine Pilot – 97 points

"It’s a tough gig to follow up a vintage generally regarded as one of the greatest ever St Henris. And yet here we have a wine that pushes things mightily close, albeit without the massive depth of sweet concentrated fruit that marked the ’21. Still, here is a wine that is true to style in every way. It’s 96% shiraz with the remainder cabernet and sourced from McLaren Vale, Padthaway and the Barossa. There is no overt oak evidence here, and you are getting a clear, uninterrupted window into the vintage. Yet, there is tremendous power and intensity, with the structure to handle long-term cellaring.. Cellar 30 years."  Ray Jordan – 97 points

"The 2022 St Henri Shiraz is a magnificent wine, which ages with grace and detail for many, many decades. Looking at this as a young wine, it shows exuberant fruit power, powerful structure and a cacophony of spices. However, with age, these wines become graceful and almost ethereal. In a recent tasting of 40 vintages of St Henri going back to 1958, the wine revealed itself to be one of patience, detail and elegance. The highlights undoubtedly were 1962, 1971, 1986, 1991 and 2010. These were wines for the ages, and this 2022 will be. Drink: 2025-2046."  Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate - 96+ points 

"Long chains of spicy tannin. This is an interesting St Henri Shiraz and an excellent one. The fruit itself has a depth to it – we’re into red licorice, blueberry, ripe plums and kirsch – all of which is overlaid with near-exaggerated swirls of roasted spices, nuts, orange peel and leather. Length here is excellent, character clear. This is a fantastic St Henri. Drink: 2028-2039+."  Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front - 96 points

"I vividly remember trying a 1971 St Henri when I worked in a retail store in Sydney and it knocked my socks off. I've been besotted with the wine every since. Deep magenta-splashed crimson in the glass, with fruit notes of satsuma plum, blackberry, blueberry and boysenberry. Hints of olive tapenade, baking spices, tea cake, roasting meats, earth and dark chocolate. Considerable fruit depth as it unfurls on the palate, with a ferrous edge to the tannin profile providing ample support. The wine finishes long, balanced and true. It's not quite up to the lofty heights of the '21 release but, man, it's not far off. Drink by 2050."  Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion - 96 points

Nick Ryan, The Weekend Australian - 96 points

"True to style, it was matured for 14 months in large, seasoned oak vats - no new oak in sight - allowing fruit and site to take the lead. The nose is poised and quietly complex: blackberry, graphite and black pepper are layered with au jus, cedar, tilled earth and olive tapenade. There’s a savoury undercurrent, but everything is in balance - restrained, elegant, and composed. The palate is sleek and medium-bodied, driven by mineral acidity and taut, sinewy tannins. Black cherry, dark plum, cedar, spice and subtle game notes glide with precision and energy. There’s a clarity to the wine’s shape and detail, and a long, effortless finish that speaks to its pedigree. A beautifully judged St Henri - classical, understated, and deeply satisfying."  Tom Kline, Wine Pilot - 95 points

"Deep, saturated colour with a strong purple rim; the bouquet is very mineral, with ironstone, freshly-dug earth and dried blood notes. Full-bodied, dense and quite muscular for a St Henri, with hints of dried fruit/raisin but the freshness is not compromised at all. Tannins are supple and fleshy and coat the mouth. Typically savoury and lovely drinking already, but obviously has long term potential too. Drink: 2028–2043."  Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 95 points

"This is certainly a very fine St Henri, although unlikely to sit with the absolute greats. Maturation is a very different regime from the usual Penfolds modus operandi, with the wine spending time in very large format, very old oak, meaning the oak influence is minimal at best. This release saw fourteen months maturation. 96% Shiraz with 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, the fruit is sourced from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Padthaway – again, no Clare material, although there is no Clare reason why. The colour is a vibrant yet near black/purple. As much as any wine in the Collection, this one did step up with time in the glass to reveal hidden layers. We have a range of aromas through dried herbs, chocolate, aniseed, cloves, black and red berries, plums, tobacco leaves and cassis. There is a juiciness to the palate and those aniseed notes really start to come forth. The wine finishes with notes of sour cherries. There is very good length here, along with balance and intensity, sleek tannins and a lingering finish. This is perhaps a little more powerful than some recent St Henri releases at this early stage and there is certainly room for the wine to improve even further. It will provide pleasure for at least twenty years. Drink: 2025-2045."  Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot - 95 points

"Offers a little less of the classic St. Henri style – the comforting old lounge leather savouriness is now discreetly a little fresher – but the usual plush richness remains. The ’22 is down to earth in tone and delivery. It is a wine of the soil, dusty and hearty in blackberry, cassis fruits, red plum, spices, herbal notes and a light savouriness.  A sprig of bay leaf adds a warm, familiar note. And yet the overall impact is one of freshness, poise, delivered via fine, firm tannins. It shows every sign of enjoying its drinking moment right now although St. Henri fans will know that it has considerable lasting qualities. Drink: 2025-2043."  Jeni Port, Wine Pilot – 95 points 

About st henri

The first vintage of St Henri – then Auldana Cellars St Henri Claret – was produced in 1888, beginning one of the most famous and enduring names in Australian wine. It was likely named after Auldana's winemaker Léon Edmond Mazure's son Henri or his wife, Philomine Henriette. The wine immediately enjoyed success, winning the Championship Cup for Best Claret in Australia at the Adelaide Wine Show in 1890 and then again as a joint winner in 1891. The St Henri label disappeared somewhere around the beginning of World War 1, probably because of reduced export sales. It was revived by Senior Red Winemaker John Davoren at Penfolds in 1953 to celebrate the centenary of Auldana Cellars (established by Patrick Auld in 1853) but the wine was not widely released. The 1953 release was made from Auldana and Paracombe fruit and the label design was based on original St Henri labels found in a loft at Auldana Cellars shortly after its sale to Penfolds in 1947.

According to retired Penfolds Senior Winemaker John Bird, the first vintages of St Henri were cabernet sauvignon and mataro blends. The fruit was foot stomped in open-ended hogsheads during vinification. After fermentation, the wine was matured in oak vats rather than hogsheads for around 18 months. John Davoren's aim was to make a wine in the traditional Claret style, accentuating fruit and maturation characters, rather than oak complexity. In this way the winemaking style differs to Grange, as it relies on larger seasoned oak vessels without any barrel fermentation. The 1957 vintage is officially recognised as the first St Henri commercial release under the Penfolds name. Nonetheless, John Davoren describes all of the 1950s vintages as “trials”. These experimental wines from 1953 to 1959 mark an important step forward for winemaking in Australia. Not only does St Henri honour the late 19th-century aspirations of Auldana's proprietor Sir Josiah Symon and winemaker Léon Edmond Mazure, but witho

s of Australia 2022 - James Sucklingut the professional rivalry between Max Schubert and John Davoren, the Grange story would not have the same richness or romance. Initially St Henri achieved greater commercial success than Grange, although both were offered to the public as Claret styles. St Henri was a more elegant, approachable and familiar style because it reflected traditional winemaking techniques, whereas the revolutionary Grange was something of a blockbuster with more richness and fullness.

Today Penfolds St Henri is a multi-regional multi-vineyard South Australian blend, primarily based on shiraz, although it still honours the original style. Significant contrbutions of shiraz come from Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, Robe and Bordertown; cabernet sauvignon from Coonawarra, Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills. After vinification the wine is matured in seasoned large oak vats for around 15 to 18 months before bottling. 

St Henri was labelled 'Claret' until the 1989 vintage. Packaged in laser-etched bottles
since the 1996 vintage. Released in many markets under screwcap since 2005. St Henri Shiraz possesses a unique stature in the story of Australian wine. With its proven style and aging potential, it is a favourite among Penfold's collectors. 

Extract from Penfolds Rewards of Patience tasting panel 2021

After the success of early sherries and fortified wines, founders Dr Christopher and Mary Penfold planted the vine cuttings they had carried on their voyage over to Australia. In 1844 the fledging vineyard was officially established as the Penfolds wine company at Magill Estate.

As the company grew, so too did Dr Penfold's medical reputation, leaving much of the running of the winery to Mary Penfold. Early forays into Clarets and Rieslings proved increasingly popular, and on Christopher's death in 1870, Mary assumed total responsibility for the winery. Mary's reign at the helm of Penfolds saw years of determination and endeavour.

By the time Mary Penfold retired in 1884 (ceding management to her daughter, Georgina) Penfolds was producing 1/3 of all South Australia's wine. She'd set an agenda that continues today, experimenting with new methods in wine production. By Mary's death in 1896, the Penfolds legacy was well on its way to fruition. By 1907, Penfolds had become South Australia's largest winery.

In 1948, history was made again as Max Schubert became the company's first Chief Winemaker. A loyal company man and true innovator, Schubert would propel Penfolds onto the global stage with his experimentation of long-lasting wines - the creation of Penfolds Grange in the 1950s.

In 1959 (while Schubert was perfecting his Grange experiment in secret), the tradition of ‘bin wines' began. The first, a Shiraz wine with the grapes of the company's own Barossa Valley vineyards was simply named after the storage area of the cellars where it is aged. And so Kalimna Bin 28 becomes the first official Penfolds Bin number wine.

In 1960, the Penfolds board instructed Max Schubert to officially re-start production on Grange. His determination and the quality of the aged wine had won them over.

Soon, the medals began flowing and Grange quickly became one of the most revered wines around the world. In 1988 Schubert was named Decanter Magazine's Man of the Year, and on the 50th anniversary of its birth, Penfolds Grange was given a heritage listing in South Australia.

Despite great success, Penfolds never rests on its laurels. In 2012 Penfolds released its most innovative project to date - 12 handcrafted ampoules of the rare 2004 Kalimna Block Cabernet Sauvignon.

Two years later, Penfolds celebrated the 170th anniversary – having just picked up a perfect score of 100 for the 2008 Grange in two of the world's most influential wine magazines. Today, Penfolds continues to hold dear the philosophies and legends – ‘1844 to evermore!'.