Penfolds has a rich history dating back to 1844 when Dr. Christopher and Mary Penfold arrived in Australia with a vine cutting and a bold vision. They purchased 500 acres of land in South Australia and began producing tonics, brandies, and fortified wines made from grapes and Australian sunshine. Christopher's planting of vines and his philosophies continue to influence Penfolds to this day. Mary Penfold, the unsung chief of Penfolds, played a significant role in the winery's experimentations, growth and winemaking philosophies. Max Schubert became the company's first Chief Winemaker in 1948 and created the long-lasting Penfolds Grange in the 1950s. The tradition of 'bin wines' began in 1959 with Kalimna Bin 28 becoming the first official Penfolds Bin number wine. Penfolds continues to innovate, with the release of the rare 2004 Kalimna Block Cabernet Sauvignon in 2012 and the 170th anniversary celebration in 2014. Today, Penfolds remains one of Australia's most famed and respected winemakers, driven by generations of visionaries and innovators who strive for excellence in winemaking. St Henri is a time-honoured and alternative expression of shiraz, and an intriguing counterpoint to Grange. It is unusual amongst high quality Australian red wines as it does not rely on any new oak. Released for the first time by Penfolds in the early 1950s (first commercial vintage 1957), it 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 with age. It is matured in an assortment of old large vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character. Although a small proportion of cabernet may sneak into the blend, the focal point for St Henri remains shiraz. The Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz 2020 (Gift Boxed) is a delightful wine that has been matured for 12 months in large seasoned oak vats. The wine has been crafted using outstanding parcels of shiraz grapes grown in South Australia's Barossa Valley, Clare Valley and McLaren Vale regions, which faced adverse climate conditions. The winter drought continued from the previous year, leading to low root-zone moisture levels, requiring irrigation to ensure healthy vines. The beginning of summer was marked by a heatwave, with the Barossa Valley experiencing 26 summer days over 35°C. Cooler conditions in January and February provided much-needed relief and McLaren Vale experienced above-average rainfall in February, enabling the vines to finish the season in good shape. Although yields were significantly below average, the low yields produced outstanding quality parcels of shiraz suited to the St. Henri style. The wine's color is garnet red, with a dark purple core, presenting elegant profundity. The nose showcases the unadulterated shiraz fruit profile without oak influence. The fruit aroma is delightful, with fruits of the forest, berry conserve, strawberry flan and rhubarb tart. There is a hint of confectionary, reminiscent of red glace cherries. The savoury notes of German Blutwurst - a spiced sausage, pan scrapings from roast lamb, salt-cured beef with black peppercorns and Ferric notes of iron filings and whetstone swarf - round out an impressive showing. The palate is quite savoury, with a morish umami nuance of Japanese nori paper and olive brine. The mid-palate anchors fresh blueberry and mulberry leaf, with exotic spices adding intrigue - Alleppey turmeric, toasted cumin, pimento. The tannins are very tactile, comparable to Dutch cocoa, creating excellent texture and mouthfeel. This classic St Henri wine will reward extended time in the cellar, offering a peak drinking window from now until 2050.

Penfolds Fortified Grandfather Tawny has intense nose with fruitcake, liquorice, raisin, and roasted walnuts all blending together with a seamless freshness contradicting age. A classic Penfolds palate with fruitcake, liquorice and vanillin oak flavours with a sweet full and round mid-palate, and a finish that persists on and on. With each vintage, varietal batches are selected for Grandfather. These batches are individually aged in seasoned old oak casks before being blended together at 14 years of age. This blend is then introduced into the ‘Grandfather Solera’.

Notes sourced from Southcorp Wines. Australia's most popular fortified wine is a tawny noted for it's mellowness and consistency. Made from a blend of vintages and oak matured at Penfolds' Kalimna cellars, in the Barossa Valley this is a rich and luscious premium tawny port.