| Score: |
94 VM.
"Glass-staining ruby. Displays expansive aromas of dark fruit liqueur, incense, violet and spicecake, along with hints of cola and cracked pepper that build with air. Fleshy and seamless on the palate, offering concentrated black and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors that are brightened by a smoky mineral nuance. Supple and appealingly sweet on an impressively long, floral-driven finish that's framed by youthful, well-knit tannins. Peter Gago, who has been Penfolds’ chief of winemaking since 2002, is deservedly considered to be among the world’s most top winemakers. Under his watch, the always reliable Penfolds wines, from top to bottom have been admirably consistent, which is no small feat for a winery that is one of Australia’s largest producers. Penfolds don’t reveal exactly how much wine they make, but suffice to say, considering their deep and wide international distribution, it’s a massive amount. The Chardonnays here have been on a steady quality ascent thanks to the efforts of Kym Schroeter, who has been with Penfolds since 1987. Today, they are among the best versions of the variety being made in the country. The Rieslings are also outstanding and eminently ageworthy. I reviewed the upcoming set of Penfolds’ top bottlings in a separate article, in July of this year." Josh Raynolds, Vinous.com, Jan 2021 |