Penfolds Tasting at Wine Watch with D Lynn introducing the 2009 Grange

"You have only so many bottles in your life, never drink a bad one."  Len Evans

 

 

One of the reasons that I get out of bed in the morning is to drink wines like Penfolds Grange. Grange is a symbol of the best that Australia has to offer, the pinnacle of quality and the epitome of what a Shiraz from southeast Australia is and standard bearer should be. That is why this is an annual event for us- all we ask for is simply the best. We will preview the newly released 2009 Grange along with a few other of the iconic Shiraz based wines from this Australia's most famous producer to show you just how well these wines age and why Penfolds is the ultimate in Australian Shiraz.

Over the years we have had both John Duvall and Peter Gago, the last two winemakers for Grange along with other Penfolds’ personalities and this year we have the star of the movie “Somm”  D Lynn Proctor on hand to tell the story of the iconic Grange, RWT, St. Henri and the Bin 28. This event is limited to 15 people and the fee for this dinner is $150 per person + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

 

Penfolds Tasting at Wine Watch featuring the New Release of GrangeWith Special Guest D Lynn ProctorThursday July 17th7pm

 

Reception:

2008 Penfolds Thomas Hyland Riesling Price: $9.75           Sale $8.58                             Case $100

(90 Points) This juicy white offers a mouthwatering whoosh of lime blossom-scented pear and apple flavors, lingering effortlessly on the vivid finish. Drink now through 2014. 8,000 cases imported. –HS Wine Spectator Issue: Aug 31, 2009

 

Tasting Line-UP:

2010 Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz Kalimna Price: $27.75        Sale $24.42           Case $284

(92 Points) Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2010 Kalimna Bin 28 Shiraz presents lovely, expressive blueberry, black raspberry and black cherries notes highlighted by violets, toast, cinnamon stick and touch of mulberries. Full-bodied and rich, the concentrated fruit is framed by medium levels of rounded tannins, crisp acid and a long, classically-styled finish. Approachable now, it will drink to 2020+. Wine Advocate #205, Feb 2013

 

1996 Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz Kalimna Price: $40.00        Sale $35.20           Case $408

(90 points) A beguiling combination of rich, almost decadentflavors on an upright frame that has a nicelyburied backbone of acidity and tannin. Nothing isobtrusive, everything is in graceful balance,leaving an ultimate impression of both muscle andflesh. Best after 2002. 6,600 cases imported. –HS Issue: Jan 31, 2000

 

2009 Penfolds RWT Shiraz Barossa Price: $149.00      Sale $131.12        Case $1520

Penfolds RWT Shiraz presents an admirable alternative to the multi-regional sourcing and American oak maturation that are hallmarks of Grange, expressing instead, single-region Barossa Valley Shiraz matured only in French oak.

The initials RWT stand for ‘Red Winemaking Trial’, the name given to the project internally when developmental work began in 1995. Naturally, now no longer a ‘Trial’! RWT Shiraz was launched in May 2000 with the 1997 vintage. Its style is opulent and fleshy, contrasting with Grange, which is more muscular and assertive.

RWT is made from fruit primarily selected for its aromatic qualities and fine texture rather than sheer intensity or power of flavour. The result is a wine that helps to redefine Barossa Shiraz at the highest quality level.

 

2006 Penfolds RWT Shiraz Barossa Price: $149.00      Sale $131.12        Case $1520

(95 Points) The 2006 RWT Shiraz was aged for 14 months in 70% new French oak hogsheads. The winery describes its style as opulent and fleshy compared to Grange's muscular and assertive personality. Opaque purple in color, it offers aromas of Asian spices, beef juice, toast, blueberry, and licorice. Rich, fleshy, and round, it has plenty of underlying tannin, impeccable balance, and a long, pure finish. It will deliver prime drinking from 2014 to 2030. Wine Advocate # 186, Dec 2009

 

2010 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz Price: $97.50        Sale $85.80           Case $995

(97+ Points) Very deep purple-black in color and showing an attractive nose of warm blackcurrants, blueberries and licorice with a complex undercurrent of mocha, cedar, menthol and grilled meat, the full-bodied 2010 St Henri Shiraz is relatively rich in the mouth, offering tons of fruit structured by firm, fine tannins and refreshing acid. It finishes with great persistence. Drink it 2015 to 2030+.   eRobertParker.com #211, Feb 2014

 

2002 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz South Australia Price: $89.00        Sale $78.32           Case $908

(92 points) A classic effort, the 2002 Shiraz St. Henri (91% Shiraz and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon) was aged 14 months in old 1,460 liter vats. First introduced in 1953, the St. Henri offering is considered to be a quintessential old Southern Australian-styled red. The 2002 was sourced from the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, and the Fleurieu Peninsula. This stunningly rich, distinctive Shiraz offers up scents of Provencal herbs, bay leaves, blackberries, black currants, new saddle leather, and loads of meaty characteristics. Rich, texturally opulent, and soft, this heady offering should drink well for 10-12 years. It is also a very good bargain in the scheme of Penfolds’ pricing. Wine Advocate # 167 Oct 2006

 

2009 Penfolds Grange South Australia Price: $850.00      Sale $699

(97 Points) The 2009 Grange Shiraz is a comprised of 84% Barossa, 8% McLaren, and a little Clare Valley and a little Magill fruit with a small 2% of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. At this youthful stage, this deep garnet-purple colored wine puts forward a vivid expression of blackberry preserve aromas amid underlying cassis, black cherry, spice box, char-grilled meat and chocolate box notes. Surprisingly medium to full-bodied (it smells much fuller!) with taut flavors that are very closed in the mouth, it has firm, chewy tannins to structure through the long and earthy finish. 406 cases imported to the US. Drink it 2018 to 2035+.   eRobertParker.com #211, Feb 2014

 

1999 Penfolds Grange South Australia Price: $465.00      Sale $409.20

(94-96 Points) Only the third Grange to be made from 100% Shiraz , the 1999 Grange is superb. The color is inky purple. The wine shows unformed but gorgeously sweet notes of blackberries intermixed with smoke, licorice, and asphalt. This is a wine of great intensity, sweet tannin, voluptuous texture, and a spectacularly long finish. Patience will be required, as it will not be released until May 1, 2004. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025.  The Wine Advocate

 

Menu

Selection of Cheese:  Beemster Gouda, Aged Cheddar

Terrine of Foie Gras with toasted brioche with a duo of compotes; wild berry and Vidalia onion

Lavender Rubbed Australia Rack of Lamb with jalapeno Mint Jam served along with herbed province potatoes and blistered Rutabaga

 

A bit of history about Penfolds:

Penfolds, a household word in Australia and one of the world's largest wine companies, traces its origins back to Magill on the outskirts of Adelaide at the foot of the Mount Lofty Ranges.   It was at Magill that Dr. Christopher Rawson Penfold, the founder of this great firm, first planted his vineyard.  Dr. Penfold, the son of a Sussex vicar, the Reverend John Penfold, was schooled in England, and married his wife there in 1835.  However, within a few short years, he decided to try his hand at life in the colonies and purchased a grant of land at Magill in South Australia for what was considered a large sum of money.  With his wife and baby daughter, Georgina, he made the hazardous voyage towards the end of 1844.  The family settled on their land at Magill and built a white-washed stone cottage which they named "The Grange".  As well as practicing medicine and looking after his farm, Dr. Penfold planted vine cuttings which he had brought out with their ends dipped in sealing wax to keep the sap in the vines until they were planted.  He did not approve of the quality of imported wine of the time so he made his own for use of his patients with anemia.  Whether the wine was in fact any help to anemia is debatable, but this now discredited cure was the beginning of a huge enterprise.  By the time of his death in 1870, Dr. Penfold had expanded his viticultural holdings and devoted more and more time to winemaking.  In his twenty-six years in the young colony, Dr. Penfold had laid the basis of a veritable viticultural dynasty.

Although the wine business at Magill seemed to falter slightly after Dr. Penfold's death, by 1881 it was again flourishing; and Penfolds was becoming the most important wine producer in South Australia.  Historical records reveal that the stock of wine at the Magill winery in 1881 was about 485,000 liters.  At that time the total quantity in South Australian was about 1.4 million liters.  Wine production continued to increase, and by 1885 trade was flourishing between Magill and all the states as well as New Zealand.  One of Dr. Penfold's four grandchildren, Frank Penfold Hyland (born 1873), was responsible for guiding the company through almost fifty years of successful expansion.  Frank entered the business in 1892 and spent three years in Europe studying winemaking.  After Frank's death in 1948, at the age of 74, the company was administered by a Board of Directors for some fourteen years before it became a public company in 1962.  Expansion continued throughout the sixties and seventies with the most significant expansion occurring in 1982 when Penfolds acquired the Kaiser Stuhl winery.  Throughout the eighties Penfolds continued its aggressive expansion, swallowed up the huge Seppelt winery, and was said to control nearly 40% of all Australian wine production.  Also in 1988, Penfold's flung its far-reaching tentacles abroad and purchased half of Sonoma County's Geyser Peak winery.  Magill is still the headquarters of the Penfolds organization, but their winery at Nuriootpa is the major production facility.  The "Grange", the family's small old white-washed stone cottage, is still maintained at Magill in its original condition and is used as a museum.  Today Penfold's is a huge and successful enterprise.  Indeed, a great deal of wine has flowed since Dr. Christopher Rawson Penfold began to cure his anemic patients at Magill.

 

Other Penfolds Wines Available

 

2013 Penfolds Bin 311 Chardonnay Price: $37.50        Sale $33.00           Case $383

Bin 311 Chardonnay is sourced from a single region and each year the fruit selection is made to reflect the Bin 311 style. In 2012, fruit was sourced from Tumbarumba — one of Australia’s most exciting cool climate viticultural districts. The Bin 311 style typically expresses a mineral acid backbone, complemented by barrel fermentation, subtle lees influence and sensitive maturation in seasoned oak. Minimal filtration is employed, preserving the elegant fruit flavours.

2007 Penfolds Cellar Reserve Pinot Noir Price: $39.00        Sale $34.32           Case $398

The Cellar Reserve Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir was first released commercially in 1997, following a series of winemaking trials by Peter Gago at Magill Estate.

Small-batch winemaking practice is central to the overall style of this pinot noir. The fruit is sourced from various cool-climate vineyard sites around Adelaide Hills, and around the clock hand plunging through the fermentation process further optimises the flavours until the wine approaches dryness.

Penfolds and independent growers work closely to achieve the best results with the grapes. No parcel of fruit is ever exactly the same and the required standards are achieved through intuitive tasting and basic field-testing of grapes in the vineyards..

Penfolds continues to experiment and refine the Cellar Reserve Pinot Noir. Presently the wine is best to drink when fresh and young; however the best vintages can age and gain further complexity and richness with a few years in the cellar. The wine is bottled unfiltered.

 

2012 Penfolds Bin 128 Shiraz                                 Price: $27.75        Sale $24.42           Case $284

Coonawarra enjoys a relatively cool climate and the profile of shiraz from this region differs markedly to shiraz produced from the Barossa. Aromatically, the Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz exhibits more peppery spice than sweet spice, red rather than black fruits and fennel over aniseed. Structurally it is firmer, with pronounced acid and savoury tannins.

This refined wine is renowned for its consistency and reliability as both a current-drinking and cellaring-type red.

Bin 128 represents the synergistic blending of Penfolds’ mastery of shiraz with the unique climate and growing conditions of Coonawarra, to create a wine that delivers a distinctly regional twist to the classic Penfolds style.

2011 Penfolds Bin 138 GSM Price: $37.50        Sale $33.00           Case $383

2010 Penfolds Bin 138 GSM                                  Price: $37.50        Sale $33.00           Case $383

Unusually for Penfolds, all three varieties are matured independently, owing to their tendency to mature at different times on the vine and the need to mature under different conditions in the barrel.

Mourvèdre will often contribute a unique combination of violet-like floral notes and a range of earthy, savoury complexities. Structurally it can be lean and sinewy, providing a worthy frame upon which shiraz and grenache can sit. Grenache is typically lighter in colour and body, presenting the perfume of the wine and is often the first component noticed when the wine is poured. Shiraz provides the body and shape of the wine.

Bin 138 is more of a fruit-driven style than the other Bin wines and displays a chalkier tannin texture. Its rich, earthy nature becomes more nuanced with age.

 

2009 Penfolds Bin 169 Cabernet Sauvignon                           Price: $337.50      Sale $297.00        Case $3443

Bin 169 was created to reflect Penfolds contemporary winemaking approach emphasising both regionality and maturation of Cabernet Sauvignon in fine grained French oak. The Penfolds Bin 169 is a style that is immediately Penfolds, whilst simultaneously illustrative of its ongoing search for diversity and style separation. An honest reflection of the region and a testament of Penfolds’ longstanding commitment to the vineyards of Coonawarra.

 

2010 Penfolds Bin 389 CAB/Shiraz                           Price: $75.00        Sale $66.00           Case $765

2011 Penfolds Bin 389 Cab/Shiraz                         Price: $75.00        Sale $66.00           Case $765

Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz is the classic South Australian red wine: a magical marriage between elegant cabernet sauvignon and generous shiraz.

With thick skins, royal purple in colour, and elegant flavours derived from ideal grape-growing conditions, cabernet sauvignon provides the structure and palate length. Shiraz grapes, akin to small black pearls, provide the intensity, opulence and flesh.

First made in 1960, Bin 389 has a reputation for consistency and longevity and has earned its well-deserved moniker, ‘baby Grange’, from time spent maturing in oak hogsheads used the previous vintage for Grange. This much-loved, beautifully consistent style shows all the hallmarks and benefits of cross-varietal blending and for many wine drinkers, it is their preferred Penfolds wine.

Bin 389 is an Australian Grand Vin; a selection and interpretation of the best parcels from the best vineyard sites, by a winemaking team steeped in the ethos and tradition of a great Australian wine style.

2010 Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Price: $67.50        Sale $59.40           Case $689

2011 Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet                           Price: $67.50        Sale $59.40           Case $689

Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon was developed by former Penfolds Chief Winemaker John Duval, in response to market demand for a versatile cabernet sauvignon style that could be enjoyed for immediate drinking, or could develop well in the cellar.

With a couple of notable exceptions, quality cabernet sauvignon has only been widely available for a matter of decades. Many of these vineyards are entering the mature phase of their productive life and there is now a rich source of high quality fruit for Penfolds winemakers to draw from.

The objective with Bin 407 has always been to promote cabernet’s varietal character, in tandem with the Penfolds house style.

Providing a lovely contrast to the more powerfully structured Bin 707, Bin 407 is a restrained and elegant cabernet sauvignon style with clear, varietal black-currant/cassis aromas, fine-grained firm tannins and underlying cedar/savoury oak.

 

2010 Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon                     Price: $337.50      Sale $297.00        Case $3443

Bin 707 is Penfolds' Cabernet Sauvignon version of Grange: ripe,intensely-flavoured fruit; completing fermentation and maturation in new oak; fully expressing a Penfolds understanding of multi-vineyard, multi-region fruit sourcing.

Named by an ex-Qantas marketer, Bin 707 was first vintaged in 1964. The wine was not made from 1970 to 1975 when fruit was directed to other wines, nor in 1981, 1995, 2000 or 2003 (when fruit of the required style and quality was not available). Fullbodied and with proven cellaring potential, Bin 707 has a secure place among the ranks of Australia's finest Cabernets.

 

2011 Penfolds Bin 8 Cabernet/Shiraz                                 Price: $21.00        Sale $18.48           Case $215

2012 Penfolds Bin 8 Cabernet/Shiraz                        Price: $21.00        Sale $18.48           Case $215

First vintaged in 2003, Penfolds Bin 8 Cabernet Shiraz was introduced to satisfy a burgeoning interest in early drinking cabernet sauvignon shiraz a classic Australian wine style which has caught the attention of export markets.

Penfolds Bin wines were originally numbered to represent their initial post-bottling location; however recent additions have been numbered to suggest associations. Bin 8 for instance, is matured in oak previously used for other Bin wines containing the same number; Bin 389, Bin 128 and Bin 28. The figure eight is also a geometric shape of equal parts, perhaps symbolically mirroring the equity between cabernet sauvignon and shiraz.

Notwithstanding the final blend of components, each variety contributes equally to this wine’s overall character. The cabernet sauvignon proffers a perfumed, elegant structure, which partners perfectly with the more generous, richly flavoured shiraz.

 

2012 Penfolds Bin 9 Cabernet Sauvignon Price: $21.00        Sale $18.48           Case $215

The 2012 Bin 9 Cabernet Sauvignon highlights the art of multi-regional blending, yet it is more contemporary in style compared to the celebrated Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon and Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon.

The wine contains fruit sourced from vineyards across South Australia with a significant portion sourced from the ancient soils of McLaren Vale, and spent 12 months in French and American oak hogsheads.

Penfolds Thomas Hyland Cabernet Sauvignon       Price: $15.00        Sale $13.20           Case $153

Penfolds Thomas Hyland Chardonnay       Price: $15.00        Sale $13.20           Case $153

Penfolds Thomas Hyland Riesling       Price: $15.00        Sale $13.20           Case $153 

The Penfolds Thomas Hyland range is named after Thomas Francis Hyland, a Victorian Civil Service Officer who joined the family business soon after marrying Christopher and Mary Penfold’s daughter, Georgina. In 1895, following Mary Penfold’s passing Thomas took full responsibility for the winery business.

Under Hyland’s stewardship the Penfolds business grew to account for one-third of South Australia’s entire wine production during 1896 – a remarkable testament to his unyielding vision and incomparable work ethic.

The Thomas Hyland range neatly follows the Penfolds philosophy of multi-regional blending, yet is also inextricably linked to Adelaide – the birthplace of Penfolds and a truly great wine city surrounded by some of the finest vineyards in Australia. The diverse climates of the various wine regions within the Adelaide zone grow grapes that display freshness, intense fruit definition, richness of flavour and balance.

The Thomas Hyland range of wines, proudly sourced from the region where Penfolds was first established in 1844, honours Thomas’s vision and determination, which laid the foundations for the renowned Penfolds winery of today.

Penfolds Club Port  Price: $14.50        Sale $12.76           Case $148

Australia's most popular fortified wine is a tawny noted for it's mellowness and consistency. A blend of vintages oak matured at Penfolds' Kalimna cellars, in the Barrossa Valley. Critical Acclaim

(89 Points) "Very spicy, sporting caramel, cinnamon and tarry flavors, sweet and silky on the long finish."  Wine Spectator

 

 

St Henri Shiraz - Grange's Ulter Ego

St. Henri was crfeated by the late Max Schubert around the same time as Grange and is also a blend of South Australia's best Shiraz vines but it is aged in large neutral barrels.  While Grange is now seen as the quintessential Australian wine, John Davoren's work with St. Henri is of equal importance. Indeed both these wines set new standards for their day with St. Henri establishing an elegant, perfumed style based on fruit definition and maturation in old oak.

Originally the wines were called 'Penfolds St. Henri Claret', but since 1991, with the release of the 1989 vintage, St. Henri has been labeled varietally. Like Grange, the wines have always been Shiraz driven, with small varying percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Nowadays St. Henri is a multi-district blend drawing Shiraz from the Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, the foothills of the Adelaide Hills, and Langhorne Creek. Cabernet Sauvignon, which provides firmness and structure to the St. Henri style, is sourced from the Barossa Valley, Coonawarra and Bordertown.

 

2009 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz South Australia                                              Price: $97.50        Sale $85.80

(93+ Points) Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2009 St Henri Shiraz is slated for release on May 1, 2013. It is a little closed at the moment though reveals earthy aromas of warm berries, some mulberries and Chinese dried plums over notes of meat, black olive, coffee and tree bark. Richly concentrated and complex with layered, savory flavors, it is structured by firm, grainy tannins and is finishing long. It needs time to develop further. Drink it from 2015 to 2025+.  

 

2005 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz South Australia Price: $65.00    Your Price: $57.20 Quantity in Stock: 6

(90 points) The 2005 St. Henri Shiraz is matured for 16 months in large, seasoned oak vats and includes 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It exhibits a floral-accented perfume along with nutmeg, cinnamon, licorice, and blueberry. Medium-bodied and impeccably balanced, it displays a complex array of fruit and spice flavors leading to a lengthy, pure finish. Drink this stylish effort over the next 10-12 years. Wine Advocate # 186 Dec 2009

 

2004 Penfolds Shiraz St Henri South Australia Magnums Price: $175.00    Your Price: $154.00 Quantity in Stock: 3

2004 Penfolds Shiraz St Henri South Australia Price: $90.00    Your Price: $79.20 Quantity in Stock: 2

(90 Points) Open-textured, medium-bodied and distinctive for its coffee-accented blackberry and black olive flavors, finishing with fine tannins. Best from 2011 through 2020. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. Wine Spectator Oct 15, 2008

 

 

Penfolds Magill Estate

The Magill Estate is one of the only single vineyard wines that Penfolds makes today.  The historic and heritage-protected Penfolds Magill Estate is one of the few single vineyards in the world located within city boundaries.  Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz was developed after the vineyard was saved from being engulfed by urban development, with a single estate wine being compelling justification for the continued use of this vineyard (by then, just 5.2 hectares of the 120 hectares which once covered an entire hillside). A meager 350 cases of this wine are exported to the U.S.

 

2000 Penfolds Shiraz Magill Estate Australia Price: $79.00    Your Price: $69.52 Quantity in Stock: 6

(90 Points) The classy 2000 Shiraz Magill Estate exhibits an excellent bouquet of black currants, raspberries, white flowers, and oak in a subtle yet authoritatively rich style that oozes class, elegance, and breed. Built on finesse along with flavor authority as opposed to power, muscle, and over the top alcohol, this medium-bodied beauty is best consumed over the next decade.

 

2002 Penfolds Shiraz Magill Estate Australia Price: $59.00    Your Price: $51.92 Quantity in Stock: 6

(90 Points) The 2002 Shiraz Magill Estate (a single vineyard cuvee whose debut vintage was 1983) spent 15 months in primarily new French oak and some larger American hogsheads. It possesses sweet aromas of vanillin, white chocolate, cassis, and flowers. Medium to full-bodied, expansive, pure, and nicely textured, this complex beauty is somewhat European in its restraint and elegance. Enjoy it over the next 10-15 years. Wine Advocate #161 Oct 2005

 

Penfolds RWT Shiraz

RWT (Red Wine Trial) was created in 1997 by John Duval and is one of the first wines to be aged in 100% new French oak.  RWT draws fruit from 20 to 100 year-old vineyards arcing across the west and north-west of the Barossa Valley, mostly independently grown. The best vineyards produce fruit of voluptuous intensity, ripe tannins, and juicy flavours. The RWT Shiraz has a very seductive style with a plum/blueberry fruit profile and fine ripe tannins underpinned by savory French oak.  Since its first vintage in 1997, collectors have recognized the sheer class of RWT. Already the wine has a strong secondary market following, illustrating its collect ability and cellaring potential.

 

2011 Penfolds RWT Shiraz Barossa Price: $149.00      Sale $131.12        Case $1520

(93+ Points) Aged in 51% new oak, all of which is French, the deep purple-black colored 2011 RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz reveals a gorgeous, black fruit and warm blueberry nose enhanced by violets and pepper notes with hints of tree bark and earth. Medium to full-bodied with a great amount of expressive flavor framed by firm, grainy tannins, the oak pokes out a bit on the long finish. Drink 2015 to 2028+.   eRobertParker.com #211, Feb 2014

 

2008 Penfolds RWT Shiraz Barossa Price: $126.75   Your Price: $111.54

(93+ Points) Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2008 RWT Shiraz presents quite a lot of cedar over notes of pure blackberry and black cherry fruit with hints of cinnamon stick, toast and underbrush. Medium bodied, concentrated and taut in the mouth, it has firm, grainy tannins and crisp acidity, finishing long. A little disjointed at this stage, it needs time to marry and should drink best 2014 to 2023+. eRobertParker.com #199, Feb 2012

2007 Penfolds RWT Shiraz Barossa Price: $156.00    Your Price: $137.28 Quantity in Stock: 4

(93 Points) The 2007 RWT Shiraz is 100% Barossa Valley Shiraz matured 13 months in French hogsheads, 71% new. Very deep garnet-purple colored, it presents youthfully mute aromas of warm blackberries, stewed plums, kirsch, cedar and cloves with an array of Indian spices opening out with air. In the full-bodied mouth it gives very firm, coarsely grained tannins, very crisp acid and good concentration, finishing long and chewy. It should be more open and approachable after a year or two in bottle, drinking to 2022 . Wine Advocate # 192, Dec 2010

 

Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon - The Rarest of the Penfold's Collectibles

The 1964 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon was Penfolds’ first commercial release of a single cabernet-based wine. Today, Bin 707 is justifiably regarded as one of Australia’s most important cabernets.

The winemaking philosophy and barrel maturation of Bin 707 is almost identical to Grange. The Bin 707 style combines intense varietal definition with new American oak to produce wines of great richness, harmony and concentration.

 

1998 Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon South Australia Price: $289.00    Your Price: $254.32 Quantity in Stock: 1

 

1997 Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon South Australia  Price: $269.00    Your Price: $236.72 Quantity in Stock: 1

 

Penfolds Grange

2008 Penfolds Grange Southeast Australia Price: $850.00    Sale Price: $699.00 Quantity in Stock: 2

(100 points)  Deep purple-black in color, the 2008 Grange puts forward a very complex nose packed with aromas of mulberries, layers of baking spices, cloves and cinnamon with nuances of minced meat, anise, potpourri and whiffs of dried mint and chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, taut and very spicy in the mouth, it shows touches of sandalwood and Chinese five spice complementing the layers of dark fruit flavors. It is framed by firm, grainy tannins and a refreshing acid line before finishing very long with aniseed and lingering blackberry preserves notes. This is clearly a wonderfully opulent and a magic vintage for this label. Drink it from 2018 to 2035+.   Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013

 

2004 Penfolds Shiraz Grange Magnums Price: $975.00    Your Price: $858.00 Quantity in Stock: 2

(99 Points) The 2004 vintage was outstanding in Barossa, McLaren Vale, and Magill, the regions where the grapes were sourced for the marvelous 2004 Grange. It contains 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and was aged for 16 months in 100% new American oak hogsheads. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it displays a superb nose of wood smoke, Asian spices, incense, game, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. Medium to full-bodied, satin textured, with deeply layered, succulent blackberry, plum, and chocolate flavors, it has the structure and complexity to merit extended cellaring of a decade and more. The winery estimates a drinking curve of 2016 to 2050; I'd be a bit more conservative on the long end of the range. It will ultimately be seen as one of the great vintages of Grange.  Wine Advocate #186 Dec 2009

 

2003 Penfolds Grange South Australia MAGNUM Price: $794.00    Your Price: $698.72 Quantity in Stock: 1

(94 Points) Supple, ripe and generous with its blueberry, plum and mocha flavors, riding easily over finely wrought tannins and extending into the long, expressive finish. Rich, complex and evocative, this has plenty of flavor packed into a beautifully balanced package. Drink now through 2020. 680 cases imported. –HS Wine Spectator Issue: Oct 15, 2008

 

1998 Penfolds Grange South Australia Price: $525.00    Your Price: $462.00 Quantity in Stock: 12

(99 Points) The 1998 Grange will be legendary. A blend of 97% Shiraz and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, it tips the scales at a whopping 14.5% alcohol. The inky/purple color is followed by an extraordinarily intense nose of creme de cassis intermixed with blueberry and floral notes. As the wine sits in the glass, aromas of meat, plums, and cola also emerge. It is a seamless effort with sweet tannin, well-integrated acidity, sensational extract, and layer upon layer of blackberry and cassis fruit that stain the palate and fill the mouth. Its harmony, freshness, and remarkable length (the finish lasts nearly a minute) suggest an all-time classic. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2030. Wine Advocate # 148 August 2003

 

1985 Penfolds Grange Shiraz South Australia Price: $480.00    Sale Price: $400.00 Quantity in Stock: 1

(90 Points) Considered a more "restrained" Grange, this wine has balance but a somewhat foursquare/monolithic character with dry, astringent tannin in the finish, hence the question mark. The color is still a healthy dense purple, and the wine shows the tell-tale peppery, asphalt, earthy, creme de cassis characteristics, but the tannin seems to be increasingly problematic. As always, it is still a young wine, so the question that begs to be answered with time is, "Is it just unevolved and backward, or is it too tannic?" eRobertParker.com, Feb 2002

 

1982 Penfolds Grange Hermitage Price: $695.00    Your Price: $611.60 Quantity in Stock: 1

(97 Points)  The 1982 is another superb example of that. One of the jammiest, most precocious Granges when it was released, it has never gone through a closed stage and continues to drink beautifully. A full-bodied, opulent Grange, it reveals an inky/purple color to the rim as well as a beautiful nose of crushed blueberries, blackberries, smoke, toast, roasted herbs, and road tar. This dense, plush, expansive, seamless, seductive 1982 has not changed much since I had it nearly a decade ago.

Grange, Penfolds’ flagship wine, is, by many accounts, the most renowned and world-famous wine produced in Australia, and these six vintages from my cellar all acquitted themselves well. These wines are almost always Shiraz, but many vintages include less than 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and there are cross-appellations blends from vineyards in the Barossa and McLaren Vale.  Wine Advocate #183, Jun 2009

 

1996 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Block 42 Kalimna Southeast Australia Price: $850.00    Your Price: $748.00 Quantity in Stock: 9

(93 points) Planted around 1888, to visit the Penfolds' Kalimna vineyard is to realize how very special this block of ancient is - it exudes history. A single block 42 wine has only been made from the fruit in 6 vintages: 1953, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1996 and 2004. I tried it twice within the last year and both times it was clear the wine is still youthful and has more to give, though this bottle was faring slightly better. Very deep garnet-black colored, it offers pronounced menthol and eucalypt notes over warm blackcurrant and spices, with hints of dried roses, lavender and Provence herbs. Solidly structured in the mouth, it has a firm level of chewy tannins and crisp acid with plenty of mid-palate flesh and a long finish. Built to go on and on.  Wine Advocate: In Asia, Jan 2012

 

 

What I Drank Yesterday- Mas De Daumas, Tablas Creek, Von Strasser, Cafaro and Moulin De Gassac

Cynthia walked in with a seriously mixed bag of wines this afternoon with some great wines from around the world.

NV Mas De Daumas Gassac Rose Frizant     Price: $23.25

A rose with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, only 11% alcohol this is methode champenoise, has a good amount of red currant berry fruit with notes of red licorice and a briny nuance coming through on the second day.  A very pretty wine on the tongue with light red berry fruit and a bit of a sweet tart note to the fruit, pretty floral notes through the finish along with a light salty note.  Finish 30+      Very Good           

 

2013 Moulin De Gassac Guilhem Blanc Pays D'Herault             Price: $8.75

This is made from purchased fruit and is made at a separate facility, Grenache blanc, Terret Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc.  Pretty white flowers, chalky mineral notes, pineapple and pear fruit, a very clean bouquet of aromas.  Zesty lemon citrus and green apple fruit on the tognue with a chalky mineral note on the finish, simple and pleasant.  Finish 25+                Very Good           

 

2010 Tablas Creek Espirit de Beaucastel Blanc           Price: $47.25

This wine is a joint venture between Robert Haas and the Perrin family and this is a blend of 60% Rousanne, 35% Grenache Blanc, 5% Picpouil Blanc.  This wine has a very rich fruit bouquet of peach, honeysuckle very pretty with notes of honeycomb.  Rich and creamy texture on the tongue with a slight oily nature, an array of tree fruits complimented by pretty floral notes, that honecomb and hibiscus note form the nose coming through on the finish, nicely balanced.  Finish 40+  Excellent +       

 

2012 Von Strasser Gruner Veltliner Diamond Mountain Napa Price: $33.75

Has a good amount of green melon rind and a hint of white pepper spice, notes of almond and a flinty mineral nuance.  Bright and zesty on the tongue with green melon fruit and a slight briny note to the finish leaves the tongue salivating for food.  Finish 35+       Very Good +               

 

2011 Tablas Creek Esprit De Tablas Rouge  Price: $64.25

A blend of 40% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Counoise, This wine has that classic garrique quality of the southern Rhone even though it is from California, fresh berry pie like fruit and a host of pretty floral notes, smoke and a note of wild game, a sort of savauge nuance.  A smooth and silky wine on the palate with a good amount of that berry pie fruit, very rich and ripe with even more concentration on the second day, notes of sweet herbs and a host of that floral character from the nose through the finish.  Finish 45+                Excellent +           

 

2012 Mas De Daumas Gassac White Languedoc        Price: $42.00

This wine is equal parts Chardonnay, Viognier, Petit Manseng and Chenin Blanc, this wine has a bit of a stink to it and it changed a bit on the second day an onion peel like aroma, but definately better with a bit of air time.  A nice rich texture on the tongue with a nice amount of ripe tree fruit and a nice hand of acidity through the finish along with tongue tingly mineral notes very fresh and a bit of that funkiness form the nose through the finish but nicely balanced, a very unique white.  Finish 45+       Excellent +           

 

2012 Moulin De Gassac Guilhem Rouge Pays D'Herault            Price: $8.25

A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Mourvedre with no oak, has some funky earthy notes to the dark berry fruit, simple and straight forward, notes of dried meat.  Smooth red berry fruit on the tongue with smooth round tannins and a nice fresh finish, notes of earth and herbs but light, a very pleasant red.  Finish 25+          Good +  

 

2010 Talley Vineyard Pinot Noir Stone Corral Edna Valley       Price: $54.00

There are only 12 barrels of this wine produced this wine has a good amount of black raspberry fruit with exotic brown spices, notes of mint and dried flowers.  A very elegant style of Pinot Noir with silky smooth tannins, zesty black raspberry fruit, wonderful freshness through the finish, that minty/floral nuance along with a host of exotic spices to the end.  Finish 45+             Most Excellent    

 

2011 Mas De Daumas Gassac Red languedoc Wine   Price: $42.00

They use 3-5 year old barrels, a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 4% Pinot Noir and 3% Syrah, this is one of the cult wines of the South of France.  This wine has a wild side to the bouquet, dried meats, light smoke and barnyard/fresh earth notes, fine herbs and some dark currant berry fruit, along with dried cigar box spice, a very complex wine that really opens up by the second day.   A very big and chewy wine that has a wonderful rustic nature to the finish echoing nuance and earthy notes from the nose through the finish, lovely structure and a long layered finish.  This wine has incredible length on the second day and merits serious collectors attention.  Finish 45+             Most Excellent    

 

2009 Cafaro Merlot Napa                 Price: $41.25

Joe is one of our favorite winemakers in California with 40 years of experience making wine in Napa Valley this wine has a very rich bouquet of aromas with dark plum and dark cherry fruit, fresh earth, mocha and sweet herbs, nice complexity here.  Lovely structure here on the palate for a Merlot, juicy plum and cherry fruit with smooth silky tannins, ripe and round with layers of dark coco, spice and fresh earth notes through the finish, very complex and long finish, even better on the second day  Finish 45+        Most Excellent    

 

 

What I Drank Yesterday- Craggy Range

Who is the best producer in New Zealand today?  One could easily make a case for Craggy Range Winer, every wine in their line-up is at the top range of quality not only for New Zealand but these wines can compete with the best made anywhere in the world!

Terry Peabody and his family searched for ten years to find the place and the people that could fulfill a dream - that they could make some of the best wine in the world.

It was this notion of legacy - to create something greater than the here and now - that led Terry Peabody in 1997 to Steve Smith and to the development of Craggy Range. Together they set a plan to buy the best vineyard land, select parcels of grapes grown by the country’s best farmers, and to choose a place for their homes, cellars and country restaurant. Their aim was to make single-vineyard wines " wines that are true expressions of the vineyard’s terroir. And an ambition to make the greatest wines in the land. No small goal and one that is not achieved without considerable effort.

Craggy Range combines two first-class talents. Terry Peabody’s success as a businessman now includes being Chairman and Proprietor of Craggy Range working alongside the highly tuned winemaking instincts and experience in the wine trade of Steve Smith, MW as business partner and Wine and Viticulture Director. Their families are involved: son Terry (TJ) Jnr. and daughter Mary-Jeanne sell their wines to the famous restaurants and wine merchants of the world and Terry’s wife Mary oversees their fine-dining restaurant, Terrôir. Their youngest son David, based in the Phillipines, is also a director.

With them are winemakers who respect the land and embrace the science of viticulture and oenology. Winemakers who are aware whatever the potential of the grapes, the ultimate destiny lies in human hands, which play a decisive role in the vineyard and winery.

Being able to indulge in the wines they love, and the blending of so much talent and passion, gives Terry Peabody and his family the feeling that their dreams are in safe hands.

Director of Wine and Viticulture, Steve Smith is a founder and shareholder of Craggy Range. He has had a distinguished academic, research and commercial career in the wine business since 1980.

As a specialist viticulturist, his research career was spent with Dr Richard Smart, pioneering the new viticultural techniques now used in many regions of the world. He published numerous academic and popular papers during this time and was awarded a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Scholarship in 1985 to study grapevine virus diseases in California.  In 1996 he became a Master of Wine, the only specialist viticulturist in the world to have this distinction, now regarded as the pinnacle of academic achievement in the industry. During this time he worked for Villa Maria Estate as Group Viticulturist, playing a significant role in the company’s high quality reputation.

In 1996 Steve was described by Decanter Magazine as one of the 50 most influential people in the world of wine going into the next millennium, alongside Chateau Margaux's Paul Pontallier, Pierre Henry Gagey of Louis Jadot, Moet and Chandon's Richard Geoffroy and Jancis Robinson MW. At that time he also consulted internationally for a number of clients including Rustenberg Estate and Hamilton Russell Vineyards of South Africa. Other personal accolades include a further ranking in the Top 50, this time by the USA’s influential Wine and Spirit Magazine in 2005. For both of these accolades he was the only New Zealander included.

 

2013 Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc Te Muna Road Vineyard              Price: $22.50

 This is a single vineyard wine, they do two different single vineyard SB's has a bit of that green peppercorn spice to the papaya and kiwi tropical fruit.   Bright and refreshing style more than just a tooty fruity New Zealand SB this wine has a solid core of tropical fruit but also has wonderful zesty minerality and a tongue tingly finish, leaves the tongue salivating for food.  Finish 40+ Excellent

2012 Craggy Range Chardonnay Kidnappers Vineyard Hawkes Bay    Price: $21.50

A bit of new oak here but mostly stainless, bright lemon drop candy with a touch of that steely Chablis like character, notes of vanilla bean spice, some toasty, flinty mineral notes.  Nice richness on the tongue with candied meyer lemon citrus and a nice firm hand of acidity, lightly toasted oak spice and a long refreshing finish.  Finish 40+             Excellent +           

2010 Craggy Range Pinot Noir Te Muna Road Martinborough                Price: $35.00

Smokey, exotic spices and dried flowers very complex array of aromas wild strawberry and raspberry fruit, a very burgundy like quality to the bouquet.  A light and zesty style of Pinot Noir but not light in nuance with an array of exotic spices, fresh earth notes and that dried floral notes through the finish.  Finish 40+     Excellent              

2011 Craggy Range Te Kahu Hawkes Bay   Price: $23.25

A blend of predominatley 69% Merlot with 9% Cabernet Franc, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Malbec blend.  A bordeaux like bouquet, fresh plowed earth, cigar box spice, dark chocolate and a good amount of currant and dark cherry fruit also like an old world meets new world style Bordeaux crossed with a California Cabernet.  A good amount of juicy fruit with a nice freshness to the finish along with a host of that tobacco spice and earth, fine herbs and coco notes through the finsih, lovely balance with everything in proportion.  Finish 40+             Excellent              

 

2011 Craggy Range Sophia Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay       Price: $

A blend of 60% Merlot , 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Cabernet Franc and 2.5%Petite Verdot madce from one of the best plots of Merlot in this prime vineyard in Hawkes bay this wine has an incredible bouquet of dark berry fruit, blackberry and blueberry with exotic dark spices, dark coco, sweet herbs and more.  Plush and rich on the tongue with an array of fresh earth, herbs and a firm hand of acidity holding things in place this wine is a baby and has dry tannins on the  finish, long and layered very rich.  Finish 50+   Most Excellent                    

 

2009 Craggy Range Le Sol                Price: $97.50

The soils are the important thing here and this old vine Syrah is incredibly rich with an array of dark plum, black cherry liqueur like fruit, dark spices, bittersweet coco, fresh plowed dark earth and some game like animal notes, violet floral notes, a little monster.  Wow this wine is incredibly rich and decadent on the tongue with a solid core of ripe black plum and dark cherry liqueur like fruit, an array of dark spices, earth and espresso and bitter coco at the end, long layered finish, but but lovely balance and freshness.  Finish 50+   Most Excellent +