The launch of the 2024 Penfolds Collection is a positive reminder that the Australian Wine Industry is making very high-quality wine that can be matched with the great houses of Europe and beyond. While the Penfolds brand has made significant steps to become and international wine producer, its values are steeped in Australian winemaking methods and a house style developed over several generations. The 2024 Penfolds Collection comprises 28 wines and this is likely to increase in the years ahead. Ultimately this is a classic and stylish Penfold’s release highlighting the best of both world’s – house style and vineyard provenance.

2024 Bekkers Release / Emmanuelle and Toby Bekkers have forged an impressive mark on the McLaren Vale landscape through their highly skilled vineyarding and winemaking. Rather than going down the alternative grape variety route, they have harnessed the region’s magnificent heritage to build a reputation for their Bekkers brand. Their attention to detail, especially during the maturation phase, brings an extra resonance to the wines. This masterful Stradivarius-like touch is what makes these wines so graceful and special.

Giaconda and Henschke 2024 Release  / 2019 Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz, Eden Valley – South Australia / Deep crimson. Beautiful cassis, blackberry pastille, roasted chestnut, espresso, herb garden, star anise aromas. Silky smooth and inky textured wine with ample blackcurrant, blackberry pastille fruits, fine loose knit graphite tannins, crunchy fresh acidity and beautifully balanced mocha, roasted chestnut, hazelnut nougat, dark chocolate notes. A lovely chalky bitter-sweet finish with a fine tannin plume. Saturated and buoyant with superb mineral length. Atypical for Hill of Grace but I suspect bottle age will haul it back into line. A fascinating vintage and a beautifully made wine. Drink now – 2038+ 14.5% alc 97+ points

Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2022 / 98p / Pale colour.  Lovely intense grapefruit, grilled nut, marzipan, vanilla aromas and flavours. Taught yet sinuous in structure with ample grapefruits and limes, underlying tonic water, grilled nut flavours, fine lacy textures, superb mid-palate volume and fresh high pitched indelible acidity. A thoroughbred of remarkable richness and torque. A beautifully focused and classic Margaret River Chardonnay showing off the fidelity of the Gin Gin Clone and precision vineyard sourcing. Drink now – 2032

The Penfolds 2023 Collection Release / “A great follow-on release highlighting the timeless quality and singularity of the Penfolds House Style.”

Hill of Grace – Celebrating 60 Years. Part I / The 60th anniversary release of Henschke Hill of Grace was marked with a wonderful tasting of vintages going back to the first 1958 vintage. These moments were a cause for reflection as the vineyard has become one of the foundations of Australia’s modern fine wine narrative.