Penfolds Collection Release 2023
“A great follow-on release highlighting the timeless quality and singularity of the Penfolds House Style.”
The 2023 Penfolds Collection Release highlights an exceptional range of high-quality wines and the brand’s inexorable foray across international borders. The Australian range remains as solid as ever with some beautiful wines reflective of well managed vineyards, benign growing seasons and precision winemaking. By and large the 2021 growing season was warm and dry with some intermittent wet periods. The overall result suggests an above average year for both white and reds with wines showing excellent definition, density and structures. 2021 Penfolds Yattarna is the flag bearing wine of the collection and leads an impressive line-up of vintages. 2021 Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz is arguably one of the finest ever released of this series. Sandwiched between these two are other impressive 2021s including Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon, Penfolds RWT Bin 798 Shiraz, Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz and Penfolds Bin 169 Cabernet Sauvignon (the latter being released on La Place de Bordeaux in September). 2019 Penfolds Bin 95 Grange, from a small but high quality vintage, is also a brilliant wine and adds to the tradition of the great follow-on vintages 1952/1953, 1961/1962, 1990/1991 and 1998/1999. The art of multi-vineyard sourcing and blending is powerfully demonstrated in this 2023 Penfolds Collection Release. Many of the wines, with their classical structures, ample richness and volume, are destined for great cellaring careers.
2019 Penfolds Bin 98 Quantum Cabernet Sauvignon epitomises the strength of the Penfolds winemaking philosophy and transfer of memory and craftsmanship. Its release is counter-intuitive to the sustainable debate, being a cross-pacific cuvée, but the expressive quality and superb balance offer a brilliant wine experience. It is the ultimate Alter Ego wine – very different to Grange and Bin 707, by virtue of sourcing, yet very much referenced into the uber fidelity of the Penfolds winemaking tradition. Although the 2020 growing season in the Napa Valley was hot and dry, with wildfires threatening vineyards, the overall result of the vintage is impressive. The saturated fruit, integrated oak, volume, freshness and torque give the wines remarkable presence and character. Reflective of similar conditions to Australia and many years of winemaking experience the 2020 Penfolds Californian wines are both familiar and different. Assuming these wines are primarily made for the US market, a tough nut to crack, they bring a compelling Australian accent to the already much-admired regional forces of the Napa Valley and Paso Robles. The 2020 Penfolds Bin 600 Cabernet Shiraz, a blend from both regions, is singularly impressive and expresses this point brilliantly.
The 2023 Penfolds Collection also incorporates the latest releases from the Penfolds South Australia/ Dourthe Bordeaux partnership. The possibilities that surround this project are only limited by imagination. Penfolds Dourthe II is conceptually interesting and is a window into this partnership’s ambitions. Of particular interest is the 2020 Penfolds FWT 585 Cabernet Merlot Petit Verdot; the FWT meaning French Wine Trial. The complexities of bringing this wine to commercial reality should not be underestimated. Penfolds wines powerfully express premiumisation and brand identity. It has much greater currency than many Grand Cru Chateau producers in Bordeaux. The wine, however, is not based on the terrain of classified properties in the Medoc and beyond. The fruit sourcing is somewhat different and avoids that connection and reflective glory of history. It stands on its own two feet. But as the name suggests, the wine is still a work in progress as the winemakers’ grapple with what the wine should be and how Australian values and French savoir faire integrate for the long term. Even so, the 2020 Penfolds FWT is very much a fine claret style and will no doubt benefit from a few more years cellaring.
Penfold's investment in France is fascinating but not yet in post-experimental mode. The partnership with Champagne Thienot is yielding some great results and reflects Peter Gago’s long term enthusiasm and engagement with Champagne together with the high standard of Champagne Thienot’s winemaking team. The next release of these wines will come a little later. Hot on the heels of this 2023 Penfolds release will be the unveiling of the brand’s new wines from China.
For the first time in its history the sun no longer sets on Penfold’s reflecting an Empire of Achievement that spans four countries, two hemispheres and four continents.
Penfolds Australian Release
Reds
2019 Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz, South Australia - 98+ points
2021 Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia - 97 points
2021 Penfolds RWT Bin 798 Shiraz, Barossa Valley South Australia - 98 points
2021 Penfolds Bin 169 Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra South Australia - 97 points
2021 Penfolds Magill Estate, Adelaide Environs South Australia - 95 points
2020 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz, South Australia - 96 points
2021 Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz, South Australia - 97 points
2021 Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia - 93 points
2021 Penfolds Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz, Barossa Valley South Australia - 96 points
2021 Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz, South Australia - 97 points
2021 Penfolds Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz, Coonawarra South Australia - 93 points
2021 Penfolds Bin 138 Grenache Shiraz Mataro, Barossa Valley South Australia - 94 points
2022 Penfolds Bin 21 Grenache, Barossa Valley South Australia - 92 points
2022 Penfolds Bin 23 Pinot Noir, Tasmania - 92 points
Whites
2021 Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay, South East Australia - 100 points
2022 Penfolds Reserve Bin A Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills South Australia - 95 points
2022 Penfolds Bin 311 Chardonnay, Tasmania and South East Australia - 93 points
2023 Penfolds Bin 51 Riesling, Eden Valley South Australia – 94 points
Penfolds Californian Release
2019 Penfolds Quantum Bin 98 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley/South Australia USA / Australia - 98 points
2020 Penfolds Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley California USA - 94+ points
2020 Penfolds Bin 704 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley California USA - 96 points
2020 Penfolds Bin 600 Cabernet Shiraz, California USA - 97 points
2020 Penfolds Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley California USA - 94 points
Penfolds French Release
MV Penfolds x Dourthe II Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, South Australia France - 95 points
2020 Penfolds FWT 585 Cabernet Merlot Petit Verdot, Bordeaux France - 93 points
Penfolds Australian Release
Reds
2019 Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz, South Australia
Deep crimson. Lifted fresh dark chocolate, mocha dark cherry blackberry, paneforte, mocha aromas with liquorice aniseed notes. Superbly balanced wine with plentiful dark chocolate, blackberry fruits, fine graphite firm tannins, lovely mid plate richness and well-balanced mocha, espresso oak notes. Finishes chocolaty firm and long. Elemental, expressive and expansive with lovely fruit complexity, oak integration, density and torque. A brilliant follow up to the 2018 vintage. 97% Shiraz 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19 months maturation in 100% new American Hogsheads, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Clare Valley. Drink 2028 – 2060 14.5% alc 98+ points
2021 Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia
Deep crimson. Lovely blackcurrant, mocha, grilled nut aromas with espresso, hint liquorice notes. Generous pure cassis, dark plum, praline, hint demi-glace flavours, fine grainy. graphite firm tannins, very good mid palate density, well-integrated mocha, roasted almond notes and underlying mineral freshness. Finishes chocolaty firm with some tobacco leaf notes. Grange in Cabernet clothing which should age brilliantly well. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, Wrattonbully, 16 months maturation in 100% new American oak hogsheads Drink 2026 – 2050 14.5% alc 97 points
2021 Penfolds RWT Bin 798 Shiraz, Barossa Valley South Australia
Deep crimson. Lovely blackberry, dark chocolate, praline aromas with mocha, marzipan, vanilla notes. Beautifully concentrated wine with ample blackberry, dark chocolate, roasted chestnut, marzipan flavours, dense chocolaty tannins, superb mid palate volume and fresh long integrated acidity. Finishes chocolaty with plentiful seductive sweet dark berry fruits and bitter sweet notes. Lovely richness, volume and vinosity. Should develop into a classic Penfoldsian Barossa Shiraz. 100% Shiraz, Barossa Valley, 14 months maturation in 20% one-year-old seasoned oak and 80% new French oak hogsheads. Drink 2026 – 2045 14.5% alc 98 points
2021 Penfolds Bin 169 Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra South Australia
Deep crimson. Intense blackcurrant, cedar, hint capsicum, sage aromas with dark chocolate notes. Inky deep, fresh and sinuous with ample cassis, dark cherry pastille fruits, fine lacy grainy tannins and well-balanced cedar/ marzipan notes. A plume of fine tannins at the finish. A classical Coonawarra claret style with lovely volume, complexity and torque. Should last the distance. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, 16 months maturation in 49% one-year-old seasoned and 51% new French oak hogsheads. Drink 2026 – 2045 14.5% alc 97 points
2021 Penfolds Magill Estate, Adelaide Environs South Australia
Deep crimson. Expressive pure blackberry, dark chocolate, sesame, vanilla aromas with herb garden/ chinotto notes. Very well-balanced blackberry, mulberry, dark cherry fruits, fine grainy firm textures, superb mid palate density and well-integrated sesame, vanilla, hint ginger oak notes. Finishes claret firm with seductive sweet fruits. A fine vintage for Magill Estate. 100% Shiraz, 19 months maturation in 90% new French oak and 10% new American oak hogsheads. Drink 2025 – 2040 14.5% alc 95 points
2020 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz, South Australia
Deep crimson. Fragrant inky, blackberry, graphite aromas with hints of roasted walnut and spice. Complex and evolved with blackberry, dark chocolate, tobacco leaf, chinotto flavours, fine loose knit lacy chalky firm tannins, and underlying graphite, walnut notes. Finishes claret firm and tight. A refined style with lovely complexity and mineral length. Should develop very well. 100% Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, 12 months maturation in large seasoned oak vats. Drink 2025 – 2040 14.5% 96 points
2021 Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz, South Australia
Deep crimson. Classical Bin 389 with intense blackberry, dark chocolate, mocha aromas and roasted almond, roasted chestnut, hint sesame nuances. Generous, smooth and velvety with ample blackberry, dark chocolate, roasted chestnut/ roasted walnut, grilled nut flavours, fine looseknit chocolaty tannins, beautifully integrated oak complexity and sinuous long fresh minerally saline acidity. Finishes velvety firm with a fine tannin plume. A superb vintage which will develop and improve further with bottle age. A keeper. 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, Wrattonbully, Padthaway, 12 months maturation in seasoned and new 37% American oak hogsheads. Drink 2025 – 2045 14.5% 97 points
2021 Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia
Deep crimson. Lifted cassis, plum, praline, bush garrigue aromas. Generous and supple textured with plentiful choco-berry mint flavours, fine grainy al dente chewy tannins, attractive inky density and underlying savoury notes. Finishes firm, tight and minerally with leafy notes. Elegant, well defined and impactful regional-all-sorts wine. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, Wrattonbully, McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Barossa Valley, Adelaide. 12 months maturation 67% one-year-old seasoned, 25% new American and 12% new French oak hogsheads. Drink now – 2032 93 points
2021 Penfolds Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz, Barossa Valley South Australia
Deep crimson. Blackberry, dark chocolate, roasted almond, marzipan aromas with cedar wood notes. Beautifully concentrated wine with complex dark chocolate, blackberry, espresso flavours, fine grainy/ graphite tannins and well-integrated mocha, marzipan oak notes. Finishes cedar firm and minerally. Still oak dominant but well matched to the fruit density. Should develop very well. 100% Shiraz, 18 months maturation in 42% oak puncheons, 29% new French and 29% new American oak hogsheads. Drink 2025 – 2035+ 14.5% alc 96 points
2021 Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz, South Australia
Medium deep crimson. Classical blackberry, dark chocolate, mocha aromas with roasted walnut, hint spice/ aniseed notes. Richly concentrated and velvety textured wine with ample blackberry, praline flavours, fine dense chocolaty firm tannins and underlying roasted walnut savoury notes. Finishes claret firm with aniseed notes and persistent seductive sweet fruits. Exemplifies the art of blending. Delicious and timeless Australian style. One of the best ever Bin 28 vintages. 100% Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Padthaway, Wrattonbully, Clare Valley. 12 months maturation in 7% new and 93% seasoned American oak hogsheads. Drink now – 2035 14.5% alc 97 points
2021 Penfolds Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz, Coonawarra South Australia
Medium deep crimson. Attractive cassis, blackberry sage aromas with roasted walnut notes. Fresh and complex with ample blackcurrant, blackberry, hint minty flavours, fine soft grainy tannins and underlying chocolaty roasted walnut notes. Finishes long and sweet. Some aniseed notes at the finish. 100% Shiraz, 12 months in 57% seasoned, 22% one-year-old and 21% new French oak hogsheads. Drink now – 2034 14.5% alc 93 points
2021 Penfolds Bin 138 Grenache Shiraz Mataro, Barossa Valley South Australia
Medium crimson. Fragrant musky plum, blackberry, chinotto, cola aromas. Inky textured and smooth with lovely musky plum, blackberry pastille fruits, some cola notes, fine lacy textures and attractive mid palate viscosity. Finishes silky and long with a fine lacy plume. A lovely fruit driven early drinking style. 50% Grenache, 44% Shiraz, 6% Mataro, 12 months maturation in 88% seasoned, 10% new French and 2% new American oak hogsheads. Drink now – Keep for a while 14.5% alc 94 points
2022 Penfolds Bin 21 Grenache, Barossa Valley South Australia
Medium crimson. Fresh camomile, musky plum, cola aromas with some savoury notes. Well concentrated pure musky plum, chinotto flavours, fine slinky textures, attractive mid palate viscosity and fresh long acidity. Finishes with aniseed notes. Classical and expressive early drinking style. 100% Grenache, matured in a combination 5% one-year-old and 6% new French oak and other parcels primarily seasoned oak. Drink now – keep for a while 14.5% alc 92 points
2022 Penfolds Bin 23 Pinot Noir, Tasmania
Medium crimson. Fresh pure strawberry, raspberry aromas with hint vanilla, roasted walnut notes. Supple and round on the palate with ripe strawberry, raspberry, red cherry fruits, fine lacy textures, very good mid palate viscosity and fresh long crunchy acidity. An appealing early drinking style. 100% Pinot Noir. Maturation in a combination of primarily seasoned and 35% new French oak barriques. Drink now – keep for a while 13.5% alc 92 points
Whites
2021 Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay, South East Australia
Pale colour. Classic grapefruit, white peach, roasted almond aromas with attractive flinty notes. Beautifully concentrated chardonnay with superb pure grapefruit, lime, stone fruit flavours, fine lacy textures, impressive mid-palate generosity, underlying marzipan, vanilla notes and fresh flinty complexity. Finishes minerally and long. Electrifying wine with wonderful volume, fruit definition, weight, complexity and energy. Highlights a marvellous vintage and years of improving the style. 100% Chardonnay, Tasmania, Tumbarumba, New South Wales and Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Nine months maturation in 30% seasoned and 70% new French oak barriques. Drink now – 2036 13% alc 100 points
2022 Penfolds Reserve Bin A Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills South Australia
Pale colour. Vibrant grapefruit, lemon curd aromas with light marzipan, flinty notes. Richly concentrated grapefruit, nectarine, lemon fruits, fine chalky, touch al dente textures, attractive mid-palate creaminess and fresh long cutting acidity. Finish crisp and tight. Should develop in the bottle very well. Very precise but keep for a year before drinking. 100% Chardonnay. Eight months in 25% seasoned and 75% new French oak barriques. Drink 2024 – 2032 12.5% alc 95 points
2022 Penfolds Bin 311 Chardonnay, Tasmania and South East Australia
Pale colour. Fragrant camomile, grapefruit, tonic water, flinty, hint verbena aromas. Supple and creamy textured with fresh grapefruit, bitter lemon flavours, fine lacy textures and indelible long acidity. Very fresh and minerally with al dente notes at the finish. 100% Chardonnay, Tasmania, Tumbarumba, Adelaide Hills, eight months maturation in seasoned and 34% new French oak barriques. Drink now – 2028 12.5% alc 93 points
2023 Penfolds Bin 51 Riesling, Eden Valley, South Australia
Pale colour. Lime, grapefruit, camomile aromas with flinty, hint talc notes. Pure fruited wine with lemon, grapefruit camomile, tonic water flavours, fine al dente textures and fresh long mineral acidity. Lovely mouthwatering finish. A high quality Eden Valley Riesling with lovely fragrance, volume, moderately low alcohol and torque. Should develop very well. Drink now – 2030 11% alc 94 points
Penfolds Californian Release
2019 Penfolds Quantum Bin 98 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley/South Australia USA / Australia
Deep crimson. Lifted pure cassis, black cherry, mulberry, hint black olive aromas with espresso, mocha notes. Voluminous, chocolaty and vigorous with ample blackcurrant, black cherry mulberry fruits, dense fine/ al dente/ bittersweet tannins, superb mid-palate richness/ viscosity and beautifully balanced mocha, espresso notes. Finishes chalky firm and minerally with plush and seductive choco-berry fruits. Timeless, complex and perfectly balanced wine. An superb alter-ego Penfoldsian wine. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon 16 months maturation in 80% new American oak and 20% new French oak barriques. Drink 2026 – 2045 14.5% alc 98 points
2020 Penfolds Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley California USA
Medium deep crimson. Intense blackcurrant, mocha, espresso aromas with cedar, roasted chestnut notes. Richly concentrated wine with blackcurrant, praline, mocha, touch panforte, chinotto flavours, dense chocolaty/ dusty tannins and well-balanced cedar/ sandalwood notes, Finishes chocolaty with fresh long acidity. Elemental wine needing time to develop to allow oak, fruit and tannins to fold into each other. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16 months maturation in 80% new French and 20% new American oak barriques. Drink 2025 – 2045 14.5% 94+ points
2020 Penfolds Bin 704 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley California USA
Medium deep crimson. Pure cassis, mulberry, cola aromas with vanilla, cinnamon notes. Round and supple with inky blackcurrant, musky dark plum chinotto flavours, fine bittersweet lacy tannins, underlying cedar oak notes and fresh long saline/ mineral acidity. Finishes firm and tight. Beautifully focused wine with understated power, complexity and torque. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. 16 months maturation in seasoned and 40% new French oak barriques. Drink 2026 – 2040 14.5% alc 96 points
2020 Penfolds Bin 600 Cabernet Shiraz, California USA
Deep crimson. Very Penfolds in style with intense dark chocolate, blackberry, cassis aromas and some roasted walnut, roasted chestnut notes. Inky, supple and densely concentrated with dark chocolate, blackberry, cassis, mocha flavours, fine looseknit chocolaty tannins and beautifully balanced new oak notes. Finishes chocolatey, minerally with seductive dark berry, praline notes. Effortless, seamless and sinuous. 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Shiraz, sourced from Napa Valley and Paso Robles.16 months in 40% new and seasoned American oak barriques Delicious wine. Drink now – 2040 14.5% alc 97 points
2020 Penfolds Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley California USA
Deep colour. Lovely complex dark plum, hint panforte, mocha aromas with hint marzipan/ vanilla/ smoky notes. Generous, expressive and ripe with musky plum, prune, praline, chinotto flavours, dense chocolaty tannins, very good mid palate concentration/ buoyancy and well-balanced mocha/ marzipan oak notes. Finishes chocolaty and long. Sweet fruited, plush, almost decadent wine to suit the American taste. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. 16 months maturation on 100% new French oak barriques. Drink now – 2040 14.5% alc 94 points
Penfolds French Release
Penfolds x Dourthe II Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, South Australia France (mixed vintage)
Medium crimson. Pure blackcurrant, praline, mocha aromas with hints of marzipan and spice. Generous and inky deep with ample cassis, dark plum, dark chocolate flavours, fine grainy, touch al dente/ chewy tannins and underlying cedar, spice notes. Builds up claret firm at the finish with a tannin plume. Compact and dense with lovely volume, richness and vigour. Should unravel with a few years of bottle age. Maturation in new and seasoned oak barriques and hogsheads. A cross hemisphere blend bottled in South Australia from the 2021 South Australian and 2020 Bordeaux vintages. Bottled in Australia. Keep for a while – 2040 14% alc 95 points
2020 Penfolds FWT 585 Cabernet Merlot Petit Verdot, Bordeaux France
Medium deep crimson. Fresh and evolving dark plum, black cherry, roasted chestnut, sesame aromas with cedar and spice notes. Well concentrated dark plum, cedar wood flavours, fine chocolatey touch grippy textures, attractive mid palate density and fresh well integrated acidity. Finishes cedary firm. Vigorous and elemental needing some time to mesh. But a very good synergy of Penfolds style versus the regional fine-grained nature of Medoc claret. 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 12 months maturation in 61% one-year-old, 20% new French and 19% new American oak barriques. Matured at Ch Cambon Pelouse. Drink now – 2040 13.5% alc 93 points