97 Points Robert Parker — The Thinking Collector's Alternative to Grange

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 that is 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 result is a wine of remarkable purity, depth, and age-worthiness that Robert Parker himself described as where the smart money goes for stocking the cellar.

Tasting Notes

Deep garnet-purple with a dense, youthful core. The nose is complex and reticent — loam, aged meat, licorice, tar, scorched earth, fenugreek, and cloves over a core of cherry cordial, blueberry pie, and dried mulberries. On the palate, the 2013 reveals lovely, understated elegance and depth — medium to full-bodied with a firm backbone of ripe, grainy tannins and many layers of fruit and spice emerging on the long, complex finish. The blend is 96% Shiraz with 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, drawing from a remarkable mix of terroirs: McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Padthaway, and Port Lincoln. 97 Points — Robert Parker.

Style & Drinking Window

Medium to full-bodied with firm, grainy tannins and extraordinary depth and complexity. The 2013 St Henri is built for the very long haul — drinking well now with extended decanting, but with the structure and concentration to evolve magnificently through 2035–2045 and beyond. Decant for a minimum of 2–3 hours, or ideally overnight. Serve at 17–18°C.

Food Pairing

The 2013 St Henri's complexity, depth, and firm tannin structure 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. 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$888, the 2013 Penfolds St Henri is, as Robert Parker himself put it, where the smart money goes for stocking the cellar. A 97-point multi-regional Australian Shiraz from Penfolds — aged in 50+-year-old casks, built for decades of development, and produced by Australia's most iconic wine house — at a fraction of the price of Grange. The 2013 follows in the blockbuster footsteps of the celebrated 2010 and 2012 vintages. For collectors and enthusiasts alike, this is one of the most compelling cellar investments in our range.

Looking for a Different Style?

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

• 2007 Shirvington Shiraz — A nearly two-decade-aged McLaren Vale single-vineyard Shiraz drinking at its absolute peak. HK$399.
• 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.