1987 Penfolds Shiraz Magill Estate

Community Tasting Notes (4) Avg Score: 91.2 points

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  9/6/2014 - JerM wrote: 94 Points

  (AshtonPinot Brunner!) Light ruby in glass with tawny brick edge. Soft stewed plums, old leather, fresh rapsberry, soft pepper spices on the nose. Palate shows dried plums, five-spice, preserved sour cherry, bluefruits, funky meaty-ness, sour plum, leather, mossy undergrowth and fine silky/gossamer structure. Ends gentle with a dash of fruit, butter, tea sweetness, soft black earth, garrigue, tobacco and pine needles. A gentle, redolent wine, showing lovely balanced maturity and secondary characters to be savoured on its own. Drink now, and do not hold.

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  12/20/2011 - JerM wrote: 94 Points

  (Dinner at Mich and Andrew's, with Belinda) A light-medium red, definitely another uncharacteristically genteel and feminine Aussie shiraz here. Bits of leather and barnyard pong on the nose upon opening, and with time, expressive stewed fruits bloom, with dark berries, dried plums and hawthorne showing in the taste, which is like it smells. Light lapsang souchong tea flavors along with cool mint wrap around the tongue, silky tannins (and a very fine mist of sediments) livened up with hints of green wood, bits of spice, and a light sprinkling of white pepper. A pleasant ferrous mineral persistence in the undertones, along with some bramble and mossy undergrowth. On the whole, a rather complete, gentle and elegant drop, with great balance which keeps growing in the glass, picking up some depth along the way; definitely a notch up from the '84 tried earlier in september. Went pretty well with our seared wagyu, porcini mash, and a japanese salad (with ponzu dressing and mamee "croutons") - thanks Andrew, Mich and Belinda for a great dinner and conversation!

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  2/9/2010 - Paul S wrote: 92 Points

  William's Somewhat Old Shiraz - a Penfolds Magill Estate vertical and some extras (Culina, Dempsey Hill): Unlike the 1985 Magill, which was lovely from the get-go and then started to flag, this was a little slow coming out of the blocks, but really gained a head of steam towards the end of the evening. Nose started out a little less expressive and slightly oakier than than the 1985, with cocoa powder and dusty earth dominant, along with some subtle fruit in the background. With time though, the fruit started coming out, with some ferrous mineral notes and plenty of sweet spice - like cardammon and anise. Likewise, the palate seemed a little simple, with prunes dominant in a smooth-tannined and freshly balanced packaged. With time though, gummy plums, smoky notes and spice merged in a very pleasing melange. Finish was okay at first, but started growing impressively, with more smoky, ashy notes, a touch of mineral and plenty of fresh sour plum and prune notes. Not quite the charmer that the 1985 was, but this seemed the more complete wine overall.

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  4/7/2006 - Chateaunewf wrote: 92 Points

  A lovely wine. Garnet turning amber at the edge. A subtle yet complex nose of cherry, underbrush and just a hint of oxidation. Medium bodied with resolved fruit and tannins. The fruit ratains some slight sweet cherry notes with a bit of tartness. Balanced and elegant but a slightly fading finish. Surprisingly, it retained its integrity in the glass and continued opening for quite a while. A very nice Magill but may have been better a year or two ago.

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