At a glance

Producer

Penfolds

Region

South Australia, Australia

Grape variety

Shiraz

Wine type

Red

Body

Full-bodied and Bold

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

$90-$130 USD retail

Tasting profile

Blackberry, black cherry, plum, baking spices, earth, savoury dried herbs, subtle oak integration. Youthful, with depth and tension.

Evolution: From primary fruit and fresh florals in youth to complex tertiary notes—cedar, cocoa, leather, dried herbs—in 8-15 years.

At peak: Most harmonious and complex between 2028 and 2035, with softened tannins, mature fruit, and integrated savory/earthy qualities.

Structure

Acidity

Medium-plus; provides freshness and lift.

Tannins

Fine-grained, integrated but with significant underlying structure.

Alcohol

14.5% ABV (typical for vintage).

Aging potential

High—often 20+ years at optimal storage.

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2028 to 2035

Optimal window

2025 to 2040

Current status

Entering early optimal drinking window, with long aging potential.

Current condition

Youthful, primary fruit but structure already harmonious.

St Henri’s style (matured in large, old oak vats) preserves varietal purity and regional character, resulting in a graceful, age-worthy Shiraz. The 2018 is widely acknowledged as a classic vintage with concentration and focus, indicating substantial potential for cellaring and complexity.

Food pairing

Roast lamb with rosemary, braised beef, game birds, hard aged cheeses, mushroom risotto, truffled dishes.

Serving

Decant

Yes (1-2 hours) — The wine has fine-grained tannins and significant underlying structure, which can benefit from aeration to enhance its complexity and soften the mouthfeel.

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 7/10

Integrated pest management, water conservation/recycling, renewable energy initiatives in select facilities, lightweight bottle use (not universal), ongoing efforts to increase sustainable packaging and circular economy.

Penfolds actively pursues sustainability practices across their production, especially through their parent company, Treasury Wine Estates, which is recognized for environmental goals and reporting. While not fully certified organic/biodynamic and not all vineyard sources are certified sustainable, the winery participates in national sustainability programs, targets energy and water efficiency, and is advancing lower-impact packaging. However, scale of production and global export add to carbon footprint, placing it above average but not at the highest echelon for sustainability.