Penfolds St Henri Claret 1976 Sunday, Nov 26 2006
Tasting Notes and Australia and Barossa Valley and Variety and Red and shiraz et al
I think St Henri is about my favourite Australian shiraz. This bottle was cliniced in 2001 and had perfect fill and colour. It was opened up at a friends 30th dinner where there were no wine bores in attendance (apart from me) but certainly some who have an apprecation of good wine. Some other interesting older wines were opened including 2001 Lakes Folly Chardonnay, 94 Seppelt Dorrien, 98 Moorilla Estate Pinot Noir and a fair old slosh of champagne and other odds and ends.
Strong colour. Very complex and inviting with aromas of black and red berry, licorice, molasses, spice and lovely aged wine characters. Medium to full bodied palate with sweet berry, licorice, chocolate and slightly earthy flavours. Luxurious. It still tastes fresh and lively and has kept it’s shape beautifully. Seamless palate and extraordinary length. Interesting to hear some comments along the lines of ‘it tastes like an old wine’ and others ‘it tastes so young’. I think it is a combination of both which is what the best old wine is nearly always about. This was a perfect bottle of an Australian Icon.
Rated : 98 Points
Tasted : Nov06
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2006 - 2016
Source : Adam
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8 Responses to “Penfolds St Henri Claret 1976”
November 26th, 2006 at 6:45 pm
Nice…shame its sooooo expensive.
November 26th, 2006 at 7:52 pm
Sounds fascinating, where is this Adam shoppe?
November 26th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
Is “cliniced” the correct way to spell it?
November 26th, 2006 at 9:20 pm
I remember enjoying Dorien in 1976 and thinking what great value it was. I seem to recall having a Jimmy Watson Trophy version too. May even still have one down there somewhere.
November 26th, 2006 at 10:30 pm
Seriously though, how much does the clinic change the structure of the wine.
David, perhaps you can shed some light on what change, if any, topping up a wine with another vintage does to the chemistry of the original product?
Or is it such a small amount that it doesn’t really make much of a difference?
November 27th, 2006 at 8:43 am
Your thoughts on the 86 version? As good as the 76?
November 27th, 2006 at 10:46 am
I have only had the 86 twice recently. Nearly as good…or maybe better depending on the condition of the bottle. I think 71,76,86,96 would be my favourites. Also like the 91 and 99 a lot.
GW
November 27th, 2006 at 5:15 pm
Gary,
I love old St Henris - was priveleged to attend a tasting a number of years ago featuring most vintages from the 60s and a few from the 70s, most of the wines were living well. Will be interesting to see whether recent ones last as well. Recent 96 was not that inspiring….perhaps I need to retaste. Have quaffed a 6 pack of the 93 in recent years which have been very good.
Cheers,
Kent