# St Henri Shiraz (2020)

- **Producer:** Penfolds
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Shiraz
- **Region:** South Australia, Australia
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €118
- **When to drink:** Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** forest berries, rhubarb, red glacé cherries, spiced sausage, roast lamb, cured beef, Japanese nori, olive brine, soy

## About this wine

Penfolds St Henri Shiraz is a celebrated Australian red wine with a rich history, first produced commercially in 1957. It is crafted as a multi-regional blend from South Australia, drawing fruit from esteemed areas like McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, and Clare Valley. What sets St Henri apart is its unique maturation process: it is aged in large, seasoned old oak vats, eschewing any new oak influence. This philosophy allows the inherent character of the Shiraz grape and the South Australian terroir to be expressed with remarkable purity. The Penfolds winery itself, founded in 1844 by Dr. Christopher and Mary Penfold, is renowned for its dedication to quality and innovation, a spirit embodied in the enduring style of St Henri.

## Interesting facts

- St Henri's distinctive style has remained consistent since its first commercial vintage in 1957.
- The wine is matured in large, old oak vats, some over 50 years old.
- The 2020 vintage was a multi-regional blend from South Australia.
- Penfolds was established by an English doctor and his wife.

## Food pairing

The wine's high tannins and full body are well-suited to rich, protein-heavy dishes, where they can soften and integrate. The savory and umami notes in the wine, such as those reminiscent of nori and olive brine in the 2020 vintage, create a natural affinity with similarly savory foods like slow-cooked meats and grilled vegetables.

## Wine making process

The 2020 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz is produced using a multi-regional blend of grapes from South Australia. Following fermentation in stainless steel vats, the wine is matured for 12 months in large, seasoned old oak vats. This deliberate choice to avoid new oak is a defining characteristic of St Henri, allowing the purity of the Shiraz fruit and the influence of the various South Australian sub-regions to be the primary focus of the wine's profile. The challenging 2020 vintage, marked by low yields due to dry conditions and heat, resulted in fruit with concentrated flavors.