2020 Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz South Australia
G 97
Deep crimson. Lovely blackberry, blackcurrant, dark plum aromas with roasted chestnut, chinotto, dark chocolate notes. Generously concentrated and beautifully integrated wine with plentiful blackberry, blackcurrant, fruits, fine slinky/ chocolaty, hint al dente/ bittersweet tannins, superb mid-palate volume, some inky complexity, lovely mocha/ espresso oak notes and fresh long juicy acidity. Builds up claret firm with graphite minerally notes. Very impressive extract, density and torque. A reference Penfolds wine. McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley and Padthaway. 12 months maturation in American (33% new) and seasoned oak hogsheads. Drink 2025–2038. 14.5% alc 2020 Penfolds RWT Bin 798 Shiraz Barossa Valley, South Australia G 96 Deep colour. Beautiful blackberry, blackcurrant, dark chocolate, roasted chestnut, hint marzipan. Lovely plush concentrated wine with smooth blackberry, dark plum fruits, fine loose-knit slinky/ graphite tannins, underlying roasted chestnut oak and fresh mineral acidity. Finishes velvety firm with some mocha notes. Very good density, fruit richness and vigour. The Penfolds winemaking stamp nicely balanced with the opulence and beauty of ripe Barossa shiraz. 16 months in French oak (49% new, 51% one-year-old) oak hogsheads. Drink 2024–2045. 14.5% 2021 Penfolds Reserve Bin A Chardonnay Adelaide Hills, South Australia G 96 Pale colour. Fresh camomile, lemon, lime, grapefruit, flinty aromas with hints of vanilla and marzipan. Concentrated, complex and creamy textured with ample lemon curd, grapefruit, white peach flavours, fine loose-knit slinky textures, lovely mid- palate volume and integrated fresh/ crisp acidity. Finishes al dente and minerally with tonic water notes. Very well-balanced wine with very good energy, definition and cut. Should last the distance. 72% of the blend is aged for nine months in new (50%) and seasoned one-year-old (22%) oak. Drink now to 2032. 12.5% alc 2019 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz South Australia G 95 Deep crimson. Intense black cherry, blackcurrant, roasted walnut, cacao, herb garden aromas with cedar notes. Well concentrated sweet black cherry, blackcurrant, hint strawberry fruits, and jammy notes. Some dark chocolate chinotto flavours, fine loose-knit slinky textures, very good mid-palate richness and inky density. Finishes claret firm with roasted walnut notes and attractive mineral length. More bottle age will bring all the elements together. Very expressive. McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Padthaway, Wrattonbully and emerging ‘The Peninsulas’ zone of South Australia. 12 months in large, seasoned oak vats. Drink 2024–2042. 14.5% alc
128 The Wine Journal – 2023
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