Penfolds, St. Henri Shiraz, 2021

Penfolds are best known for producing Australia’s iconic Grange, a powerful red that’s widely considered to be one of the finest wines in the world.

The winery was originally founded back in 1844 by English emigrants Dr. Christopher Penfold and his wife Mary who brought with them vine cuttings from France. Since then the estate has blossomed into Australia’s premier winery with a string of exceptional cuvees under their belt like this magnificent Shiraz.

Unlike Grange and many other top Australian reds, St Henri is unusual in that it isn’t aged in NEW oak barrels. This cuvee was first released by Penfolds in the early 1950s, the era of their legendary winemaker Max Schubert who first created the Grange. Fruit is carefully selected from prime vineyards in Barossa, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, and the Adelaide Hills, and the young wine ages in large wooden casks that are over 50 years old.

I suppose in many ways, this is considered a third (or maybe fourth!) wine. Which is absolutely bonkers given how critically PERFECT this wine is. What an opportunity to bag a wine of severe quality.