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PENFOLDS LAUNCHES ‘2020 COLLECTION’
Led by 2016 Penfolds Grange and a superlative g4, Penfolds, the flagship wine brand under Treasury Wine Estates, has officially unveiled the new 2020 collection in Hong Kong.
Described as “sophisticated and sculptured”, the 2016 Grange “may politely nudge the classic 2004 and 2010. It would be brazen to rank any further back into the last millennium”, comments Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker.
Adding to this year’s release, Penfolds launched a new wine blended from four vintages of Grange, aptly named Penfolds g4, following previous release of g3. The wine is a blend of four Granges, namely 2002, 2004, 2008 and 2016 vintages.
“These four Grange vintages are amongst our favourites of the last two decades. All so different – in every sense, not just climatically. The synergistic blending of these vintages worked perfectly from a quality, structural and style perspective”, says Gago. Only 2,500 bottles were filled, and the wine carries a retail price tag of AU$3,500 (US$2,530) each.
This year, the Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz commemorates the 60th anniversary since it was first made in 1960 by Max Schubert. Gago reflects on the significance of Bin 389 saying, “Put simply, Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz manifests all that is Penfolds … a wine that so many of us have grown with. This style extolls the wisdom of blending, as it does the synergies afforded by varietal and sourcing freedom.”
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” says Gago. “Vying for Bin 707 quality fruit its Coonawarra badge and French oak lodgings hold sway. Built differently, dressed differently”. Altogether different is the 2017 St Henri, a “masterclass of texture with silky, polished tannins” described by the company.
Not to be overshadowed by the reds, the four white wines released in this Collection continue to excite Penfolds winemakers. The 2019 release of Bin 311 Chardonnay, according to Gago, “struts across a wider cool-climate stage. An awakened and enlightened blend”. Other whites in the range include the 2018 Yattarna, 2018 Reserve Bin A Adelaide Hills Chardonnay and 2020 Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling.
The Penfolds Collection 2020 includes:
- 2016 Grange
- 2018 Yattarna
- 2018 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2018 RWT Bin 798 Barossa Valley Shiraz
- 2018 Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2018 Magill Estate Shiraz
- 2017 St Henri Shiraz
- 2019 Reserve Bin A Adelaide Hills Chardonnay
- 2018 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
- 2018 Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2018 Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz
- 2018 Bin 28 Shiraz
- 2018 Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz
- 2018 Bin 138 Barossa Valley Shiraz Grenache Mataro
- 2019 Bin 23 Pinot Noir
- 2019 Bin 311 Chardonnay
- 2020 Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling
Wine Description
The Story
Since 1844, Penfolds has played a pivotal role in the evolution of winemaking with a history and heritage that profoundly reflects Australia’s journey from colonial settlement to the modern era. The stories and philosophies behind each label bring a timeless quality, making Penfolds wines special and compelling for collectors and drinkers the world over.
Launched in 1998 with the 1995 vintage, Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay was the result of one of the most comprehensive and highly publicised wine development programs ever conducted in Australia. The aspiration and independence of mind that the late Max Schubert brought to Penfolds winemaking philosophy inspired the winery to embark on the project of creating a white wine that would one day rival the standards of Penfolds Grange.Yattarna reflects Penfolds patience and continued commitment to this goal, its very name being drawn from the Aboriginal, meaning 'little by little, gradually'. Each vintage provides the opportunity to further raise the quality horizon.
Wine Information
“Arguably ... on par with the exceptional 2012 and 2017 vintages of Yattarna –this release certainly has the potential to befit a classic designation!.”
- Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker
Color
Very pale straw with lime green hues
Nose
A pedigreed stylistic first alert – subtle flint, more rock-flint than struck-match.
A mist of limey citrus, curry leaf and hints of white peach. Quite an exotic ascent... no need to coax from glass via a vigorous swirl.
Understated spoils of cool-climate, barrel-fermented chardonnay – a lovely waxiness, whiff of cashew, and subtle creaminess.
A Southern-Hemisphere reflection extolling Burgundian restraint, temperament.
Palate
At once, substantial flavour coupled with a textural dynamic; mouth-filling, engulfing – opens up aka mid-symphony, no instrument idle.
White stone fruits – just ripe nectarine and freshly-sliced peach, and the most subtle adornment of oak and zesty acidity.
A wonderful line struts across the mid-palate, not brazenly, yet with real purpose/destination and persistence.
Amplified innate potential; beautifully poised and defined.
More? Enough will not be enough.
Vintage 2018
All three regions enjoyed a relatively wet winter and spring, setting the vines up with healthy soil moisture profiles for the ensuing growing season. Tasmania experienced clear and generally warm conditions from January onwards, with no extreme heat spells leading into harvest. The temperature only breached 35°C once in January, resulting in optimal conditions for ripening.
Tumbarumba had plentiful rainfall right up to December, when a dry spell set in. In February, temperatures were generally cool allowing for slow, consistent ripening. The Adelaide Hills fruit-set was slightly above average. The region experienced a warm finish to the growing season, however well-developed canopies shielded the fruit from adversity and ensured the berries ripened evenly. Harvest was an orderly affair across the three regions, with chardonnay exhibiting outstanding varietal characteristics with bracing natural acidity.