Rhône Theme
Timed Online Auction, 2 - 12 February 2024
Rhône | International & South African offering
About the SessionThe first sale of the 2024 Strauss & Co Fine Wine Auction calendar is an exciting Rhône valley and Rhône-style offering and has fast-become one of the most popular at Strauss & Co Fine Wine Auctions.
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About this Item
Penfolds was founded by Dr Christopher and Mary Penfold in 1844, who arrived in Australia with their vine cuttings in hand. They had no prior history in winemaking but set about inventing tonics, brandies, and fortified wines. Mary took charge, blending the wines to her taste and enforcing the winemaking philosophies that Penfolds still follows today. Penfolds Grange was created in the 1950s and holds a high reputation worldwide.
Sublime, voluptuous, beguiling, inviting, opulent, layered. These are some of the words often used to describe Penfolds Grange. Unlike the most expensive wines of Europe, Grange is not a single vineyard production, but rather a carefully blended composition of high-quality grapes harvested from a wide region. The craft and expertise that goes into each vintage gives Penfolds Grange its prestige pedigree.
St. Henri is a time-honoured and alternative expression of Shiraz, and an intriguing counterpoint to Grange. It is unusual among high quality Australian red wines as it does not rely on any new oak. It was created in the early 1950s (first commercial vintage 1957) and gained a new lease of life in the 1990s as its quality and distinctive style became better understood. Proudly, a wine style that hasn’t succumbed to the dictates of fashion or commerce. St Henri is rich and plush when young, gaining soft, earthy, mocha-like characters as it ages. It is matured in old, 1460 litre vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character. Although a small proportion of Cabernet is sometimes used to improve structure, the focal point for St Henri remains Shiraz.
Provenance
Private Client
Critics Ratings
'Extremely dark crimson. Intense warm but fresh minerals on the nose. Complete with great balance. Dense and savoury. Admirable restraint.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17.5/20 (Jun 2015)
'The 2008 St. Henri Shiraz is a blend of 90% Shiraz and 10% Cabernet. Peter Gago said that 90% of Barossa fruit was picked well before 3rd March before the heat wave. Still, it is patently more gregarious, outgoing and voluptuous than the 2007 with copious layers of black cherry, cassis, cedar and just a hint of fresh beetroot. The palate is full-bodied with a dense carapace of primal blackberry and cassis fruit. This is a little monolithic at the moment but it is well balanced and offers great delineation, which renders it controlled and refined on the powerful finish when it could have been overwhelming. Looking back, the 2008 errs towards Bordeaux for inspiration. Once again, this has great potential, but it will need 15-years in bottle. Drink 2024-2045.' - Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 95/100 (Jun 2012)
'Like virtually all of Penfolds' top-end reds, this is full bodied and densely concentrated. As it's aged solely in large vats, there's no oak influence and the wine needs a bit of bottle age to come around. For now, it's a bit monolithic, showing hints of mint, black olive and ripe raspberries before ending long and fine. Drink 2017–2030, and perhaps beyond.' - Joe Czerwinski, Wine Enthusiast, 94/100 (Feb 2014)
'Saturated ruby. Deeply pitched dark berry and cherry aromas are complemented by notes of cola, licorice and mocha, with a vanilla undertone. Plush and expansive, offering sweet blackcurrant and cherry-vanilla flavors that become smokier and spicier with air. Closes with impressive power, gentle tannic grip and sweet persistence.' - Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 93/100 (Jul 2012)
'Crisp in texture, with peppery flavors and crunchy tannins around a core of dark berry and licorice flavors. Finishes with intensity. Best after 2015.' - Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator, 90/100 (Nov 2012)
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