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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2021 and 2025 (based on 11 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 86.4 pts. and median of 87 pts. in 55 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by thega5man on 3/16/2024: Ok (326 views) | | | Tasted by RichBoom on 9/11/2023: Great with meat spaghetti. Sept 2023. Jonas house (786 views) | | | Tasted by gornals on 6/14/2023 & rated 84 points: 🧐APPEARANCE🧐 -
🌡️Intensity🌡️- Deep
🔴Colour (Red)🔴 - Ruby
👃🏼NOSE👃🏼 -
🌡️Intensity🌡️ - Medium (+)
🫐Black fruit🫐 - Blackcurrant,Blackberry,Black plum
🌱Herbaceous🌱 - Grass
🌶️Pungent spice🌶️ - Black pepper
🍶MLF🍶 - Butter,Cheese,Yoghurt
🪵Oak🪵 - Toast,Smoke,Coffee
🍇Fruit development (Red)🍇 - Prune,Dried fruit
⚱️Bottle age (Red)⚱️ - Meaty
👅PALATE👅 -
🍬Sweetness🍬 - Dry
🧪Acidity🧪 - Medium
🧬Tannin🧬 - Medium (+)
🥴Alcohol🥴 - High
🏋Body🏋 - Full
🌡️Flavour intensity🌡️ - Medium
🏁Finish🏁 - Medium (1024 views) | | | Tasted by Rodsvino on 4/29/2023: This wine may have peaked. Still drinkable and definitely not offensive, just not as attention getting as it was previously. (925 views) | | | Tasted by mkoetting on 3/31/2023 flawed bottle: Präsenter Fehlton. Muffig in der Nase und am Gaumen. Nicht genießbar. Vielleicht beim nächsten Mal… (1005 views) | | | Tasted by GlennRyder on 10/21/2022 & rated 85 points: Very deep fruits and strong flavour. Seems heavily grown mature after 4 years. Younger bottles I will drink earlier, this one misses somehow the freshness. (1367 views) | | | Tasted by Lost Lake Cellar on 10/3/2022 & rated 85 points: Reliably smooth and delicious. Paired with a grilled, bacon wrapped filet and chive cream cheese Hasselback potatoes. (1197 views) | | | Tasted by FamousWine on 6/1/2022: This is an entry-level blend of Shiraz & Cabernet Sauvignon from many terroirs of South Australia. It was aged for 10 months in seasoned oak hogsheads. I bought it because a wine from Penfolds sold at €10 always attracts the attention. Decanted for an hour and a half then paired with tasty BBQ sausages. Fresh and perfectly expressive nose of blackberries, rhubarb, pomegranate, a pinch of spice, a little vanilla and discreet violet. The attack on the palate is delicate, almost sweet, then the power unfolds with serenity. The aromatic is quite simple but delicious: black fruits, violet and licorice predominate. The medium to full body is supported by grainy and pulpy tannins. A nice freshness softens the 14.5 degrees of alcohol and highlights some elegant toasted notes. The length ain't crazy so no need to dwell on that. So easy to drink and what a fantastic QPR! My wife smiled when she drank this! Drink now-2025.
[Photo on Instagram] (1758 views) | | | Tasted by Jithotw on 2/18/2022: Black fruit, some vanilla
full on black fruit, blackberry, full body, balanced, medium plus finish (1916 views) | | | Tasted by Ernestas on 2/1/2022 & rated 77 points: A base level classical Aussie blend of Shiraz and CS, aged for 10 months in US oak. Fruit driven aroma of blackberries, blackcurrants, cassis, capsicum, chocolate, baking spice and jammy notes. Full body screaming palate with perturbed overpowering black fruit flavours, velvety tannins, mild acidity, concludes with bitter finish. (1954 views) | | | Tasted by Dominic Roy on 11/7/2021 & rated 85 points: Nose: Vanilla. Cinnamon. Strawberry. Slightly herbaceous. Sweet cherry. Medium plus intensity.
Palate: Raspberry. Strawberry. Medium plus acidity. High tannins. Dry. Medium plus body. Medium flavour intensity.
Finish: Medium finish. (2094 views) | | | Tasted by macaujames on 10/5/2021 & rated 89 points: Very smooth, a bit sweet and lightly oaked traditional blue and red fruited wine, which has a bit extra punch in 2018. This is not a peppery wine. 14.5%. OK value at 14 Euros but there are others I would prefer. Drink up in 2 years+. (2816 views) | | | Tasted by Rodsvino on 8/27/2021: A consistent winner after taking in to account the price paid (QPR?). A little sharp to start with but lovely fruit and aromas. Before too long the sharp finish softened and once food was added it came in to its own. Stunner at a dinner party? No. But Friday night back deck, pizza, family and friends: a consistent winner. An annual purchase for me. (2194 views) | | | Tasted by Boom$hakalaka on 8/26/2021: Nice and easy to drink (1833 views) | | | Tasted by dekevain on 7/30/2021 & rated 85 points: Black fruit, cherry & oak coming in on the nose and continuing on the palate with some blackberry & stewed fruit. Honest & clean Australian wine, nothing special. (1876 views) | | | Tasted by vandal16 on 5/14/2021 & rated 89 points: Dark ruby color. Aromas of pomegranate, graphite and beef. Cherries and cranberry on the pallet with touches of dried herbs and black pepper on the long finish. For a fairly young wine, the tannins were mild and silky. Very expressive and easy to drink. Really great value! (2080 views) | | | Tasted by Tedmarentis on 5/10/2021 & rated 92 points: Easy-drinking crowd pleaser, big nose full of dark fruit and smooth on the pallet. Enjoyed on its own as well as with meat and cheese. Nothing mind blowing but I’m upping my rating because for the price, it’s a fantastic value (1951 views) | | | Tasted by steve_and_mary on 4/28/2021 & rated 86 points: Fruit forward, easy to drink alone or complement a meal. Medium but nice finish. Would have again. (1711 views) | | | Tasted by steve_and_mary on 4/27/2021 & rated 85 points: Fruit forward, dry finish. Good, solid, but not impressive. (1680 views) | | | Tasted by spacewrangler on 3/19/2021 & rated 87 points: This was surprisingly very good. 70% shiraz, 30% cab. Nothing complex mind you but a solid choice for a midweek dinner w grilled meat. (1631 views) | | | Tasted by PIntag on 3/19/2021: 14.5% abv.
Big mouthful of fruit here, with an annoyingly prominent heavy-toast oak note. This integrated a bit after having been open for a few hours and even more so the next evening, but it still cut into my enjoyment. Otherwise, a crowd-pleasing fruit bomb that should be a hit at parties and a good value at the $10 I paid. If scoring, 85 - 87. (1978 views) | | | Tasted by zochavez on 3/17/2021 & rated 80 points: Juicy blueberries with hints of black pepper. Very pronounced on the nose. Tannins are well integrated despite the age. Very smooth on the palette, can feel a bit fat during the finish. Overall, a good value for money wine. (1476 views) | | | Tasted by Hawkeye_Addict on 2/27/2021 & rated 91 points: The QPR here is fantastic. $13 where I picked it up. An excellent option to prevent you from raiding your cellar. (1607 views) | | | Tasted by Siwink57 on 2/27/2021 & rated 88 points: Opens on the nose with blackberry with plum and some spice on the palette. Better on day 2 as it softens in the mouth. Good QPR for $12. 87/88 or 3.5 stars. (1557 views) | | | Tasted by Dboileau on 2/20/2021: On the nose, blueberry jam, cinnamon, pepper. Acidity medium minus, shirt finish, very fruity but not overly sweet. At this price point, this is an easy pick for a “cheap meal”, everybody will love it. Enjoyable, well balanced, this is penfolds folks. (1426 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Michael Godel
WineAlign (4/9/2020)
(Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet, South Australia red) Subscribe to see review text. | By David Lawrason
WineAlign (4/7/2020)
(Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet, South Australia red) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of WineAlign. (manage subscription channels) |
| Penfolds Producer website
Producer Cellar Door - Barossa (Google Maps)
About Us
Australia's winemaking history of less than two hundred years is brief by European measures though, like Europe, punctuated by periods of extreme success and difficult times. From the earliest winemaking days Penfolds has figured prominently and few would argue the importance of Penfolds’ influence on Australia’s winemaking psyche.
Without the influence of Penfolds the modern Australian wine industry would look very different indeed. Sitting comfortably outside of fad and fashion, Penfolds has taken Australian wine to the world on a grand stage and forged a reputation for quality that is without peer.
Penfolds’ reputation for making wines of provenance and cellaring potential might suggest a mantle of tradition and formality is the preferred attire of a company with so much history to defend. But to label Penfolds as simply an established and conventional winemaker, would be to confuse tradition with consideration and to overlook the innovative spirit that has driven Penfolds since its foundation, and continues to find expression in modern times.
If there is anything traditional about Penfolds, it is the practice of constantly reviewing the wines it already does well, and continuously evolving and refining styles as vineyards mature and access to ever older and more varied vineyard sites improves.
Making The Best Possible Wine
At Penfolds, the role of the winemaker is to make the best possible wine within the constraints of each vintage. Penfolds’ house style emerged from a fortified-wine producing culture and evolved as a winemaking philosophy – a way of making wine – which has had a profound effect on the entire Australian wine industry.
The concept of multi-regional and vineyard blending, a feature of the Penfolds house style, is an amplification of the ‘all-round wine’. Without the constraints of a single vineyard, winemakers could choose the best possible fruit with the outstanding characteristics of each vineyard.
While American oak has played a central role in the development of Penfolds red wines, French oak has been increasingly used in the evolution of new wines – particularly RWT and Yattarna. Maturation in oak, which follows fermentation, is also key to the Penfolds house style.
The Penfolds approach to winemaking has percolated through the entire Australian wine industry over the last 50 years. The techniques employed in research and development of Penfolds wines are remarkable and many of the discoveries and innovations have had a lasting impact on winemaking thinking.
Winemakers
In Max Schubert, Don Ditter, John Duval and Peter Gago, Penfolds has nurtured four of Australia's great winemakers. They have passed the Chief Winemaker’s baton of responsibility for crafting some of Australia's most iconic wines, down through the past six decades.
Joining Peter Gago in the Penfolds winemaking team are Senior Red Winemaker Steve Lienert, Senior White Winemaker Kym Schroeter, and Red Winemakers Andrew Baldwin, Adam Clay, Stephanie Dutton and Matt Woo - also the Penfolds Fortified Winemaker. All members of the Penfolds winemaking team ensure that Penfolds’ reputation for outstanding quality is upheld.
Vineyards
Barossa Valley
Penfolds draws fruit from a combined vineyard area of 618 hectares in the Barossa region of South Australia. The Barossa is about 70 kilometres north of Adelaide and in 1911 Penfolds established a winery at Nuriootpa, completed in time for the 1913 vintage. The Barossa region is known for its relatively low rainfall with many vineyards dry grown on single wire trellising.
Magill Estate
The historic and heritage-protected Magill Estate Vineyard was established in 1844 by Dr Christopher Rawson and Mary Penfold—just eight years after the foundation of Adelaide. It was originally known as the Grange Vineyard, named after their new homestead ‘The Grange’, a cottage which still stands intact amongst the vines.
Eden Valley
Joseph Gilbert planted the first vines in the Eden Valley in 1842 and since that time the region has become synonymous with producing elegant riesling and complex shiraz. While its name suggests a concave nature, Eden Valley is actually a wide ridge, situated east of the Barossa Valley with an altitude ranging from 440 – 550 metres.
McLaren Vale
McLaren Vale is located approximately 40km to the south of Adelaide, with the vineyards in the region located between 6 and 15 kilometres from the Gulf of St Vincent. The elevation ranges from 50 to 350 metres above sea level. Penfolds has company owned vineyards throughout the region, using the fruit as blending components for premium red wines such as Grange and Bin 389.
Coonawarra
Penfolds has had a long history with the Coonawarra region, dating back to their first vineyard purchase in 1960. It is one of the most famous red wine regions in Australia with weathered limestone terra rossa soils, relatively cool climate and overall water availability. Coonawarra has played a significant role in many of Penfolds' multi-regional wines as well as the single region wines such as Bin 128.
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion Winery Of The Year 2014: Penfolds
Penfolds is Australia’s foremost winemaker, with an unbroken line dating back to its establishment in 1844 when medical practitioner Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold and wife Mary purchased ‘the delightfully situated and truly valuable of Mackgill … Comprising 500 acres (202 hectares) of the choicest land’. Here they built the house that still stands today, and within a few years had begun the winery and cellar on the site of today’s buildings at Magill Estate.
Mary took charge of winemaking, initially producing grenache prescribed by her husband as a tonic for anaemic patients. By 1870 she, son-in-law Thomas Hyland and cellar manager/winemaker Joseph Gillard had formed Penfolds & Co. With markets in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, their wine production was over one-third of South Australia’s total.
Growth continued unabated, and in 1945 Penfolds acquired the jewel of the Magill Vineyard, at that time the largest vineyard in South Australia. It now has 2100 hectares of vineyards, the largest share of Australia’s total. Two men came together in the 1950s to lay the foundation of Penfolds today: winemaker Max Schubert, and research chemist Ray Beckwith (who died shortly after his 100th birthday in 2012); indeed, their contribution transcended Penfolds to the entire Australian wine industry.
The architecture for the Penfolds wine portfolio of the twenty-first century was established in the 1960s, half a century ago. There has been growth, both in the range of labels and their price points, but it has been cleverly – indeed sensitively – managed; demand-driven growth has been achieved without any quality compromise whatsoever.
There is no possibility that the pre-eminence of Penfolds will ever be challenged by any other Australian wine business. Equally certain is that the Penfolds brand value will continue to gain ground on the world stage of all consumable products. If proof be needed, the overall quality of the wines in this Wine Companion is the best Penfolds has ever presented to the markets of the globe.
Author: James Halliday Jul 2013Cabernet-Shiraz BlendA very popular blend in Australia-particularly from South Australia, where the two varietals work well together. The most famous of these would be the Penfolds Bin 389, considered Australia's most cellared wine. In years gone by this was referred to as "Baby Grange" as some of the wine used barrels from the vintage of Grange.
The 2018 Paternus states only McLaren Vale Shiraz (no Cab Sav).Australia Wine Australia (Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation) | Australian Wines (Wikipedia)South Australia South Australian Wine Industry Association | South Australian Wines (Wikipedia) |
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