Penfolds St. Henri 2010
Having tasted St. Henri 2010 and Grange 2010 in a roll, we can say that these 2 are not comparable in terms of investment and tastes. Write from wine tasting angle, the St. Henri 2010 is surely fruitier than 2010 Grange (St Henri use bigger berries). Tannins are less (St Henri used less shriveled grapes), yet the nature of the tannins is different in that St. Henri 2010 is chunky and Grange 2010 is grainy and fine (with a lot and thicky though). Both are very ripe. Fruit profile is similar, yet St. Henri 2010 gives more floral element (lavender, violets) with powerful fresh fruit, where Grange gives elegant and fine, dark fruit, albeit dense. St. Henri 2010 gives bold, creamy tones (dark chocolates, mocha, roasted chestnuts, lurking behind with fresh dark fruits for the stainless steeel fermentation) from new mixed oak, where Grange 2010, on the other hand, gives an Old World touch of spice(paprika, oregano flower and thyme; balsamic)and smokiness(sesame-paste laden with basted meats and saturated stewed plum). It would seem to Team that St. Henri 201 is more an even more crafted wine in terms of number of rackings, and Grange has been relatively left intact to minimal handling as to allow developement on its own right in oaked fermentation and brought-up in new American oak to get a full-fedged taste if that peaty, iodine, green olive base, through dark fruits to tertairy tones, along that tasting quadratics. Both wines use appropriate fruit from Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Adelaide Hills, Wrattonbully and Clare Valley common, allocating the better fruit for Grange of course and fresher fruit for St Henri. In the case of St Henri, Robe is a new source, and for Grange, Magill Estate the classic supply.
The fact that good wine comes from good fruit is always correct. In the making of St. Henri 2010, it holds also true that good wine is a result of balanced wood treatment. To Team, this St. Henri 2010 can be likened to the two Pichons, if you allow us to exaggerate a bit, as genuine ‘claret’ as a pleasurable drink, even though it may not be as long-lived as Grange 2010. But honestly how many lives have you got? St Henri 2010 can probably last for more than 10 years’ time already! St Henri is charming in its own way and will not be dwarfed before the greats, including but not limited to Henschke Hill of Grace, Australis and even it elder brother Grange!
Scores? Easy. Andrew Caillard awarded it 100, James Suckling 98, Lisa Perrotti-Bown 97+, Matthew Jukes 20/20, James Mattison 96, WE95, WS95. What more?
It is just easy to write about St. Henri 2010, after our tasting because the words just flow from the pen.
