PENFOLDS ST HENRI SHIRAZ 2018 750ML

The finest vintage I've ever tasted, surpassing even the incredible 2016 (time will tell, anyways), the 2018 Shiraz St. Henri is, as always, a multi-region blend yet is mostly Barossa Shiraz, and the aging is always in larger oak vats. (Don't tell anyone, but I often prefer St. Henri to Grange.) The 2018 is absolutely brilliant, revealing a saturated purple hue to go with a smorgasbord-like array of ripe blueberries, mulberries, iron, lavender, sage, and ground pepper. It has an almost bloody, salty character and is full-bodied, massively concentrated, opulent, and rich yet stays flawlessly balanced, has sweet tannins, and has a great finish. It's certainly more open and assessable compared to the 2016 at this same stage, but this awesome Shiraz will evolve gracefully for another 2-3 decades, if not longer. Bravo.

A great St. Henri and, although multi-regional, this is very much a wine that speaks of the Barossa Valley, with aromas of ripe blackberries and red plums that are so fresh, together with tobacco, young-leather, earth, chocolate, coal-smoke and tarry accents. Effortless depth on the palate with summer berries, framed in fine, alabaster-like tannins that are underscored with discreet power. So long and captivating. A blend of Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Port Lincoln, Robe, Padthaway, Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills. Drink over the next decade or more.

The 2018 St Henri Shiraz is a terrific effort, perhaps rivaling the top-flight wines under this label in 1976 and 1986. Remarkably fine and silky in texture yet simultaneously dense and concentrated, it showcases the amazing fruit harvested in 2018. Boysenberry, mulberry and mocha shadings all swirl together effortlessly in a whorl of full-bodied elegance, finishing long and effortless. Mainly Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, it includes smaller amounts of fruit from Port Lincoln, Robe, Padthaway, Clare Valley and the Adelaide Hills, all aged 12 months in large old wooden vats.

Dark, bright-rimmed violet color. A wild, highly complex bouquet evokes spice-tinged black/blue fruits, pipe tobacco, savory herbs, potpourri and olive paste. Weighty and yet energetic in style, offering mineral-driven bitter cherry, cassis, chewing tobacco and exotic spice flavors that turn sweeter through the back half. Round, slowly building tannins give framework to a very long, smoky finish that echoes the cherry and tobacco notes.