One of the finest releases ever of this benchmark shiraz, with an alluring and slightly meaty fragrance of dark plums, blackberries, dark chocolate, backed by spicy and smoky undertones. Made in the traditional velvet-smooth Australian ‘burgundy’ style, it’s soft and juicy, with a deeply flavoured and layered palate whose deep, dark core of vibrant dark fruit flavours is tightly wrapped in fine, approachable tannins. Marvellously long, it finishes with freshness and acidity, with underlying hints of mineral.

Very fine, supple, elegant and seamless, this old-fashioned expression of the Australian ÔburgundyÕ style, is full to medium in weight, with earthy, leathery and chocolatey complexity beneath its briary expression of bright red and black fruits. Supported by fine, cherry kernel-like tannins, itÕs silky-smooth, slightly minty and meaty, finishing long and savoury with nuances of licorice, raisins and menthol.

A delicious wine, but another of the revolving door of wine styles that in recent years have been bottled under this historic label. Laced with exotic, musky, marsala-like spices, deep floral scents and pristine aromas of dark berries and plums, it’s particularly elegant Ð certainly without the density and richness usually associated with St Henri. Underpinned by a high grade of fine-grained crunchy tannin, itÕs intense, pristine and vibrant, finishing with exemplary length and balance.

Supple and elegant, this moderately weighted, medium-term shiraz has some charming length and balance but lacks genuine intensity and richness. Its dusty, faintly leathery and herbal aromas of cassis, briar, blackberries, dark plums, cola and dried herbs precede a meaty, medium to full-bodied palate whose dark fruit flavours integrate with sweet chocolate oak, suggestions of animal hide and licorice. It finishes relatively gentle and savoury.