This is a review from May 2007. It is relevant because I am at the moment tasting the 2005 St Henri.
I love St Henri; in a good year I will buy a six-pack, in a great year I will buy a dozen, plus a few magnums. So I approached this bottle with some high expectations, despite the vintage. This showed a pleasantly lifted and forward nose; raspberry, mocha, nutmeg, some raisined fruit and a bit of black fruits and char. The palate was quite delicious, with raspberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, black cherries and raisins (again), and a bit of char; or is this more like a burnt fruit character? It certainly shows some ripe fruits, and the alcohol pokes out at times, but these are ably balanced by some rapspberry acid. A very good wine, but the baked/raisiny character just doesn’t sit quite right with me. Drink over the medium term.
Rated : 89 Points
Tasted : May07
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : $80
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2010 – 2015
Source : The Wine Emporium
Website : Penfolds