St Henri Shiraz: a long-time favourite of wine enthusiasts. Indeed, a wine with a history which pre-dates Penfolds Grange. Exactly how far it pre-dates Grange no one quite knows, though every couple of years a bottle emerges (usually at a Penfolds re-corking clinic) which pushes the start date back. This year’s release is 97% shiraz, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. No new oak. Quite effusive on the nose. Almost unusually effusive for a young St Henri. Red and black licorice, leather, violets. St Henri in its best clothes, prim and pretty. Blackberries, plums, cranberry. Has a gorgeous spicy leathery character on both the nose and palate. Flavour- and weight-wise this is 100 percent true to the St Henri mould. The archetypal medium-bodied Aussie red. Fine, deceptively assertive, salty, seedy tannin plays a key role. This will mature well but, unusually, it will drink well and give up quite a lot as a young wine. Clean, classic, classy finish. 93+ Points, Drink 2016-2026+. Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front.