At a recent tasting at the famous Beverly Hills Hotel, Penfolds and Southern Wine & Spirits celebrated the highly anticipated release of Penfolds Icon and Luxury Wine and viewing of the Penfolds Ampoule at the Penfolds Luxury Lounge.
Australia’s award-winning Penfolds wines arrives in the United States for discerning and adventurous drinkers who want a taste that’s out of the ordinary, borne out of the rich Antipodean soil and distinctive climate. And when you’re actually in Australia, be sure to visit Mudgee wine tours to try the latest and greatest wines.
Penfolds Chief Winemaker Peter .Gago
Peter Gago attending the US celebration and is the Chief Winemaker at Penfolds. As Chief Winemaker, Peter has a dedication that is unsurpassed. As only the fourth custodian of Grange, Peter is in high demand internationally and he relishes bringing Penfolds wines to the world.
Penfolds’ Chief Winemaker Peter Gago discusses wines with journalist.
His reds have taken on a voluptuous texture with a complex array of fruit flavours. The formidable tannin structure is ever-present, now with an added gloss and shine. With Peter’s guidance, Penfolds white wines have also made gigantic improvements, becoming ever more refined, with majestic balance and silky textures.
The Most Expensive Bottle of Wine in the World
Penfolds displayed one of the world’s most expensive bottles of wine at the Penfolds Luxury Lounge, priced at $168,000.00. The Ampoule is a beautiful hand blown scientific grade glass sculpture that acts as a unique vessel. The actual glass sculpture is encased within a handcrafted bespoke jarrah cabinet. Every touch-point of the ampoule is a work of art.
The Penfolds Ampoule Project is the ultimate reflection of winemaking heritage, innovation and artistic collaboration delivering a ground-breaking work of art encapsulating a rare and significant wine, 2004 Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Making of the Penfolds Ampoule
But connoisseurs will surely be able to find a vintage more to their budget and their liking from the rest of the Penfolds line, whether you’re looking for a shiraz, a chardonnay, a pinot noir, a reisling, or others.
Though relatively new to the United States, Penfolds has a long and storied history in Australia going back to 1844, when Dr. Christopher Penfold and his wife Mary purchased a 500-acre estate. Over the decades, the Penfold estate refined and expanded its wine production. By the 1940s, Penfolds had become a leading name in Australian drinking circles, and in the early 2000s, it had reached every major wine market across the globe, spreading the taste of Australia, one bottle at a time.
Icon and Luxury Range
But what about the wine? At the top of the Penfolds line is the Icon & Luxury Range, which includes the classic Grange Shiraz ($850) that originally put Penfolds on the map. Two more shiraz vintages, St. Henri Shiraz and RWT Shiraz, are available, as are the Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon and the Yattarna Chardonnay. The 2006 Grange Shiraz boasts ratings of 96 and 94 from, respectively, Wine & Spirits and Wine Enthusiasts, praised for its full, intense flavor. The Grange is, in short, the ultimate Penfolds representative.
Chardonnay
For a different but complementary flavor, Penfolds’ Yattarna Chardonnay 2008 ($130) offers another full-body flavor, though in a white wine. Yattarna derives its name from the Aboriginal language, meaning “little by little, gradually,” which describes its long development process, until the winemakers at Penfolds were satisfied with the results. Wine Spectator awarded the Yattarna Chardonnay 93 points in its evaluation, calling out “more lime and pear than pineapple this time, finishing with delicacy and refinement.”
The Bin Range
The Bin Range forms the heart of Penfolds’ catalog, with a wide selection of shiraz, pinot noir, cabernets, Riesling, and chardonnay. Penfolds’ shiraz expertise is well-known and are easily worth imbibing, but you’d do well to investigate the other choices. The inaugural Bin 23 Pinot Noir 2009, for example, is a new addition to the Bin family and brings all the intriguing complexities of its lineage. Peter Gago, Penfolds’ chief winemaker, points out the notes of dark cherry, juniper, clove, and rhubarb among the flavors you’ll find in this pinot.
Riesling is another vintage you may not expect from Penfolds, but the Bin 51 Riesling Eden Valley 2010 ($40) combines Penfolds’ reputation for layered flavors and textures. This Reisling promises lime juice aromas and a distinct floral character that would pair well with a Thai calamari salad, for example.
The Thomas Hyland Line
The Thomas Hyland line honors the memory and legacy of Dr. Penfold’s son-in-law, who helmed the company from the late 1800s to 1914, as it developed its identity and reputation. This well-edited line includes a shiraz, a cabernet sauvignon, a Reisling, and a chardonnay. The best representative of the line may be the Thomas Hyland Shiraz 2010, which boasts dark, ripe notes of cut plums, black forest cake, licorice, and anise. Aged in oak casks, the shiraz adds a touch of vanilla to each glass. Pair it with a rare steak for the ultimate combo.
Peter Gago posing for a magazine photo during his Beverly Hills visit.
Fanfare
“Wine and Spirits Winery of the Year” 22 Times! More than any other winery in the world
Their flagship wine – Penfolds Grange Shiraz – consistently obtains 93+ points from Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate.
1951 Grange Shiraz changed the face of the Australian wine industry – an experimental vintage that now sells at Auction for over $51,000.
Penfolds may not be in your cellar currently, but it would make a welcome addition to any wine lover’s collection. Start with a shiraz; available in a wide variety of vintages, Penfolds’ shiraz selection promises robust, well-rounded flavors that can be enjoyed alone or with a gourmet meal. Not that a shiraz is the only option — Penfolds also offers a full range of red and white wines, all faithful to the Australian terroir and the Penfolds character. If you haven’t investigated Australian wines, Penfolds is the ideal place to start. Bottoms up!
Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker
PENFOLDS U.S. Suggested Retail Pricing
2008 Penfolds Grange Shiraz $850
2009 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz $99
2010 Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay $130
2010 Penfolds RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz $150
2010 Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz $130
2010 Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon $350
2010 Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz $69
2010 Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon $69
2012 Penfolds Bin 51 Riesling $40
