1988 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 750ml

Minor Label Damage

Overview

The 1988 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz is a mature South Australian classic from one of Australia's most important wine producers. St Henri has long stood as a counterpoint to Grange, offering a distinctive expression of Shiraz that relies on fruit depth, structure and time rather than new oak impact.

This 1988 release is a mature collector bottle, showing the evolved red-fruited, savoury and tobacco-edged character that St Henri develops with age.

Vintage & Winemaking

Penfolds St Henri is a multi-regional South Australian Shiraz, matured in seasoned large oak vats for around 15 to 18 months before bottling. This approach preserves the character of the fruit while allowing the wine to develop complexity without overt oak influence.

Product Highlights

• Mature Penfolds St Henri Shiraz from the 1988 vintage
• Classic South Australian Shiraz with proven ageing pedigree
• Seasoned large oak vat maturation
• Collector favourite within the Penfolds portfolio
• Original drinking window listed as 2000-2005

Critic Scores & Reviews

93 points - Jeremy Oliver, tasted January 2003
Jeremy Oliver listed a drinking window of 2000 to 2005 for this mature St Henri release.

Tasting Notes

Well-advanced but still showing freshness and richness on the palate. The fruit is fully evolved, with developed red fruit, tobacco nuance and subtle minty notes.

Food Pairing

Pair with beef, venison, roast lamb, braised short rib, mushroom dishes or aged hard cheeses.

Cellaring Potential

This is a mature release beyond its original drinking window. It should be treated as a drink-now bottle, with condition dependent on provenance, storage and cork integrity. Careful decanting is recommended.

About Penfolds

Penfolds is one of Australia's most significant wine producers, with a history stretching back to 1844. St Henri is one of its most distinctive Shiraz labels, admired for its traditional maturation in large seasoned vats and its ability to develop savoury, earthy and mocha-like complexity with bottle age.

Specifications

• Vintage: 1988
• Producer: Penfolds
• Wine: St Henri Shiraz
• Country: Australia
• Region: South Australia
• Grape Variety: Shiraz
• Wine Style: Red Wine
• Wine Sweetness: Dry
• Format: 750ml