Australia's Anti-Grange — A Penfolds Icon with Over Two Decades of Bottle Age

My Wine Man on Penfolds St. Henri

While Penfolds Grange commands the headlines, St. Henri has long been the connoisseur's choice — a wine of extraordinary elegance, restraint, and longevity that stands as the philosophical opposite of its famous sibling. First produced in 1957 by winemaker John Davoren, St. Henri was conceived as a wine that would let the fruit speak for itself, aged in large old oak vats rather than the small new American oak barrels that define Grange. The result is a Shiraz of remarkable purity and finesse — multi-regional in its sourcing, drawing on the finest fruit from McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, and beyond, unified by Penfolds' legendary blending expertise. Now over two decades of age, the 2001 St. Henri has evolved into something truly special: a wine of seamless complexity, fully resolved tannins, and a depth of flavour that only time in the cellar can deliver.

Tasting Notes

Deep garnet with a brick-red rim that speaks to its age and maturity. The bouquet is complex and inviting — dried red fruits, dark plum, leather, earth, and subtle dried herb notes that have developed beautifully over two decades. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied with silky, fully integrated tannins and a seamless natural acidity. Flavours of dark cherry, blackcurrant, licorice, and savoury spice flow through to a long, mineral, and elegantly persistent finish. This is St. Henri at its most expressive — mature, complex, and utterly compelling.

Style & Drinking Window

The hallmark of St. Henri is its use of large, old oak vats rather than new small barrels — a deliberate choice that preserves the purity of the fruit and allows the wine to develop extraordinary complexity over time without oak domination. Now in its prime drinking window after 23 years of cellaring, the 2001 St. Henri is drinking beautifully and will continue to reward through 2030. Decant for 45–60 minutes to allow the full aromatic complexity to unfold.

Food Pairing

The silky tannins, dark fruit depth, and savoury complexity of the 2001 Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz make it a superb match for Australian Grass-Fed Lamb Cutlets from My Meat Man. The wine's earthy, dried herb notes and fine tannin structure complement the rich, gamey character of grass-fed lamb beautifully — whether grilled over charcoal with rosemary and garlic, pan-seared with a herb crust, or slow-roasted with Mediterranean vegetables.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

At HK$999, the 2001 Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz represents exceptional value for a fully mature, multi-regional South Australian Shiraz from one of the world's most celebrated wine estates. St. Henri is consistently undervalued relative to Grange despite sharing the same Penfolds winemaking pedigree and multi-regional sourcing philosophy. For the wine lover who wants to experience Penfolds at its most elegant and age-worthy, this is a compelling buy at a fraction of the price of comparable Grange vintages.

Looking for a Different Style?

- 2012 Torbreck RunRig Shiraz Viognier — Barossa Valley powerhouse, opulent and richly structured
- 2009 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier — 97-point Canberra District icon, perfumed and silky
- 2004 Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 2 — 96-point Yarra Valley legend, fragrant and hauntingly complex