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  • Country ranking ?

    130
  • Producer ranking ?

    84
  • Decanting time

    2h
  • When to drink

    2020-2035
  • Food Pairing

    Lamb

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

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Vintage 2018

AUSTRALIA: Very promising quality with the most optimistic reviewers declaring 2018 great in every region and for every variety. The more cautious view is that early frosts reduced yields, but that consistent good weather throughout the second half of the growing season actually resulted in great potential.

Barossa 2018 vintage to savor

The 2018 Barossa vintage was completed at the end of April 2018, with growers and winemakers satisfied with a high quality vintage and good yields.

“The flavors and colors of the reds are wonderful, and the natural acids in the Eden Valley whites surprisingly high, with early varieties this year including Riesling, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Grenache and Cabernet,” said Louisa Rose, head of winemaking at Yalumba.

The growing season is off to a good start, with winter 2017 precipitation about 10% above average. However, spring rainfall was only 78% of average in the Barossa Valley (BV) and 98% in the Eden Valley (EV), and December rainfall was only 57%. % of average in BV (88% in EV).

Drier soils, combined with warmer than average days in October and November (October 2ºC above average in VB (1.8ºC in EV) and November 1.1ºC above average in BV (1.6 ºC in EV), allowed the vine canopies to grow quickly, to flower well and to form a good number of clusters.

January and February were hot and dry, with very hot temperatures in February slowing the rate of ripening. January was slightly above average (1.4°C during the day but closer to average at night) and February was about average during the day, but with nighttime temperatures significantly warmer than average. average in the Barossa Valley (5.8°C warmer).

With summer rainfall at 50% of average, growers with access to water, soil moisture monitoring, good irrigation management and healthy soils experienced less stress – and subsequently delivered healthy fruit and consistent yields.

The Indian summer of March and early April was “the icing on the cake”, with average temperatures, without extremes, perfect for ending the vintage. The 28-30mm of rain on April 14-15 did not cause any major problems for picking – and was a welcome post-harvest watering for most Barossa growers.

Overall, in 2018, Barossa Valley crushed 56,970 tonnes*, down 22% from the 2017 vintage, but 9% from the five-year average. In 2018, Eden Valley crushed 11,593 tonnes*, down 3% compared to 2017.

The total Barossa crush of 68,563 tonnes* represented 9% of the total volume and 25% of the total crush value in South Australia.

Average prices for Barossa Valley varieties remained stable in 2018, with Shiraz at $2252 per tonne, down 1% from last year. At Eden Valley, the average price of Shiraz increased by 11% to $2636 per tonne and Cabernet Sauvignon increased by 15% to $2354.

*Wine Australia estimates the response rate for wine grape crush in South Africa to be 85%, so the actual total Barossa crush is estimated at between 75,000 and 80,000 tonnes.

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Tasting note

color

Youthful, Cherry Red and Clear

ending

Long

flavors

Cranberry, Plum, Toasty, Cedar, Earthy and Balsamic

nose

Intense and Complex

recommend

Yes

taste

Average in Acidity, High alcohol content, Medium tannin, Well-structured, Developing, Medium-bodied, Fresh, Fruity and Dry

Verdict

Excellent

Written Notes

100% Coonawarra, which has seen 18 months in French oak hogsheads, half of which were new.

Having indulged in a bit of Cabernet bashing with the 407, it is great to be able to change tack. This is a cracking Cabernet. For me, everything good Cabernet can and should be. Tight, coiled, still very youthful but brimming with promise. A mix of red and black fruits, cassis, mulberry, touches of dark chocolate, high quality chocolate, raspberries. Coffee beans and tobacco leaves. An impressively structured wine, classic, with balance and concentration. Some lovely chocolate sweetness emerged towards the finish. A wine with a big future. 94.

24 hours later, it had emerged from the chrysalis (forgive me, but the mention of silkworms has sent me down paths of thought unintended) and was showing more richness, concentration and deeper flavours. A roast meat, beef stock note was developing, together with strawberries and cherries. 95.

  • 95p

Good looking normal size bottle and in an perfect condition. Colour is cherry red, and looking clear and youthful. On the nose it is intense and complex. The taste is fruity, fresh, and dry, high alcohol content, with medium tannin, and average in acidity, medium-bodied, with well-structured structure and developing. On the palate it is layered and has plum, chocolate, cedar, balsamic, earthy, toasty and cranberry flavours. The finish is long. This wine is excellent. I paid around 100-200€ a bottle. Perfectly stored bottles are still very worthy and will last well for another 20-30 years and decant at least 30min before tasting. Too expensive for quality. I do recommend.

  • 94p

A purist’s cabernet, turning its face on the mastery of the regional blending, the birthmark of the Penfolds red wine style. Vive la difference. Tannin is the heartbeat here, cassis and olive tapenade wrapped around the tannin, not vice versa. 14.5% alc, cork 97 points, drink to 2043, $360

  • 97p

For some reason there are no notes about this wine in the lavish booklet that accompanies the launch of the Penfolds Collection 2020 but this is what Peter Gago has to say about it in a press release: 'The Cabernet stable broadens this year with the sixth release of Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet, a contemporary 2018 expression of Cabernet which is released only in exceptional years. This 100% Cabernet dutifully puts its hand up to help champion the region. Vying for Bin 707 quality fruit, its Coonawarra badge and French oak lodgings hold sway. Built differently, dressed differently ... Aged for 18 months in French oak, which apparently illustrates the company's 'ongoing search for diversity and style separation'.
Veering Napawards in style on the nose ... though it's drier on the finish than any luxury California Cabernet is likely to be. Hint of blackberry fruit and still quite youthful plus a tiny bit of mintiness. For once I'm aware of the alcohol – unusual for wines in this Penfolds Collection 2020. Tannins quite insistent on the end. Just a tiny bit skinny. Nose and palate not quite integrated at present.

  • 89p

Deep crimson. Fresh blackcurrant roasted chestnut vanilla marzipan aromas with hints of sage/ aniseed. Lovely pure blackcurrant, blackberry, dark cherry fruits, fine grainy tannins. Lovely mid-palate density and plentiful mocha roasted chestnut oak. Finishes gravelly firm, sweet and long with a tannin plume. Beautiful wine with lovely concentration, volume, oak balance and mineral length. Keep for a while. Seal; Cork, Drink 2025 – 2045 14.5% alc 96 points
 
A classic Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon showing marvellous purity of fruit and regional expression. A wine that promises so much more with further cellaring.
 
18 months in 50% new and 50% seasoned French oak hogsheads

  • 96p
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Information

Origin

Magill, South Australia

Other wines from this producer

50-Year-Old Rare Tawny Series 3

802-A Superblend

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Bin 128 Shiraz

Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley & South Australia

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Penfolds Bin 311

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Penfolds Bin 704 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Penfolds Bin 707

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'V' Chardonnay

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