Australian premier winemaker Penfolds has recently announced the release of their Australia Collection 2021. The collection contains vintages from over half a decade and celebrates the 70th anniversary of Penfolds’ acclaimed Grange.
Grange 2017
Grange is Penfolds most renowned and awarded wine; it is also a heritage icon of South Australia. This vintage is no different, having been awarded an average of 97 points. The peak drinking period for Grange 2017 is 2027-2060. It has a deep but lively crimson red colour. Grange 2017 is a full-bodied and long-lasting taste; it has a hint of oak and a supple mix of dark berries, liquorice, malt and vanilla marshmallow. The scent of Grange 2017 is faint dark chocolate complimented by smoked meats. It was aged for 18 months in 100% new American Oak Hogshead.
RWT Bin 798 Barossa Valley Shiraz 2019
The Red Winemaking Trial (RWT) was initially an experiment done by Penfolds to try and create a red wine that prioritized using fruit with excellent aromatic qualities and plush texture. Whilst the RWT is no longer a trial, with the first release in May 2000, the principles are still evident in every bottle. RWT Bin 798 Barossa Valley Shiraz 2019 was awarded an average of 96 points and its peak drinking period is 2025-2050. Its colour is an onyx core and ruby rim; it has an intense cherry, blackberry, and mulberry aroma with a hint of ginger. The tannins are fused with cocoa dust to create the perfect balance. The maturing process occurred over 18 months in French oak Hogshead, which gives the wine a dry and savoury finish.
Yattarna Chardonnay 2019
Yattarna Chardonnay 2019 has a very pale, vibrant, glistening colour with green hues. It has a strong and smoky bouquet; made using reductive winemaking techniques, it has the perfect initial wave of fruity notes. It is discreetly rich in flavour with a long aftertaste carried by savoury yet floral dryness, and it was matured for eight months in French oak Barriques. It was awarded an average of 97 points and has a peak drinking period of 2023-2039.
St Henri Shiraz 2018
The St Henri Shiraz is Penfolds highest awarded wine in the Australia Collection 2021 with an average of 99 points. It has a deep inky blood-red colour. St Henri is unique for Australian red wines as it gets its mature flavour from aged oak; this vintage was matured for 12 months in 50-plus-year-old vats. The dry tannins complement stone fruit and dark berries, and the mid-palate contains hints of roasted nuts and liquorice root.
Other wines in the collection are Reserve Bin A Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2020, Magill Estate Shiraz 2019, Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz 2019, Bin 389 Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2019, Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz 2019, Bin 138 Shiraz Grenache Mataro 2019, Bin 28 Shiraz 2019, Bin 311 Chardonnay 2020, Bin 23 Pinot Noir 2020, Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling 2021.
Penfolds’ Australia Collection 2021 furthers their legacy as Australia’s prestigious wine producer.