A Penfolds Blockbuster — The Celebrated 2010 St Henri at 15 Years, Drinking Magnificently

My Wine Man on Penfolds

Penfolds is Australia's most iconic wine producer — a house whose history stretches back to 1844 and whose wines have defined the benchmark for Australian fine wine for over 180 years. While Grange commands the headlines and the auction records, St Henri has long been the wine that serious collectors and connoisseurs reach for — a wine of understated elegance, extraordinary complexity, and remarkable longevity produced in a fundamentally different way to its more famous sibling. Where Grange is aged in new American oak, St Henri spends 12 months in 50+-year-old large casks — ancient vessels that impart virtually no oak flavour, allowing the fruit, terroir, and winemaking to speak without interruption. The 2010 vintage is one of the most celebrated St Henri releases in the wine's long history — a blockbuster year that has been referenced by critics as a benchmark for the style. At 15 years of age, it is now drinking magnificently.

Tasting Notes

Full-bodied, rich, dark, and concentrated — and yet still chewy, fresh, and remarkably youthful for a 15-year-old wine. The nose is complex and compelling, with dark fruit, earth, licorice, and the characteristic savoury depth that St Henri's ancient cask ageing delivers. On the palate, the wine is potently tuned and beautifully structured — driven by waves of intense fruit, a well of unbridled fine tannins, and a wash of awakening acidity that gives the wine its extraordinary freshness and length. Fifteen years of bottle development have added layers of secondary complexity — leather, cedar, dried herbs, and a mineral depth that speaks to the wine's multi-regional fruit sources. The finish is long, persistent, and deeply satisfying.

Style & Drinking Window

Full-bodied with concentrated fruit, fine tannins, and exceptional freshness and length. The 2010 is drinking magnificently now and has the structure and depth to continue evolving through 2035–2040 and beyond. Decant for a minimum of 2 hours, or ideally overnight. Serve at 17–18°C.

Food Pairing

The 2010 St Henri's power, depth, and savoury complexity call for food of equal substance and occasion. A prime dry-aged steak, slow-roasted lamb shoulder with rosemary and garlic, or a richly braised beef short rib are the natural companions for a wine of this stature. Roasted pork belly with crackling or a slow-cooked game dish also pair beautifully with the wine's earthy, spiced complexity. For a more refined occasion, a board of aged hard cheese — a vintage Comté or aged Manchego — will complement the wine's depth and savoury character perfectly.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

At HK$988, the 2010 Penfolds St Henri is one of the most compelling cellar investments in our range. A 15-year-old blockbuster vintage from Australia's most iconic wine house — aged in 50+-year-old casks, drinking magnificently now, and built for decades more development — at a fraction of the price of Grange. The 2010 is widely regarded as one of the greatest St Henri vintages ever produced. For collectors and enthusiasts seeking a benchmark Australian Shiraz with genuine age and provenance, this is an extraordinary opportunity.

Looking for a Different Style?

If you'd like to explore other exceptional premium Australian Shiraz from our range, consider these alternatives:

• 2012 d'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz — A decade-aged McLaren Vale icon from one of Australia's most storied family estates. HK$588.
• 2005 Greenock Creek Seven Acre Shiraz — A rare, two-decade-aged Barossa icon of extraordinary depth and character. HK$699.
• 2010 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz — A 96-point Barossa icon — traditional basket-pressed Shiraz of immense character and age-worthiness. HK$1,488.

Life's too short for bad wine.