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97 POINT RATED ANDREW CAILLARD MW & 96 POINT RATED RAY JORDAN PENFOLDS KALIMNA SHIRAZ
Vintage: | 2021 |
Source/Region: | McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Padthaway and Wrattonbully, South Australia |
Grape Variety: | Shiraz |
Cellaring: | Drink now or cellar up to 2050 |
Bottle Top: | Stelvin |
Alcohol Content: | 14.50 |
Standard Drinks: | 8.60 |
Rating: | 97 |
As advertised! Full-bodied, rich and generous. Lovely mocha, chocolate, espresso flavours. The confectioner provides black jellybean, licorice, chocolate truffles and rum and raisin. Very generous fruits fill an ample, plush mid-palate. A trip to the German cake shop: black forest cake, strudel, crème anglaise. Toasted fennel seeds and fresh tarragon. The acidity is juicy and energetic. Bold, attentive, structural graphite-like tannins hold the package together. The oak is completely absorbed, allowing the fruit to shine. The finish is long and fine, with a taught shale, mineral-like impression that lingers forever.
McLaren Vale enjoyed a relatively mild growing season. Dry conditions in July were countered by good spring rainfall. Warm conditions prevailed throughout spring. There were only nine summer days above 35°C. January conditions were near average, however conditions in February and March were mild. Veraison was late and that pushed harvest into March. The Barossa Valley growing season was also relatively mild with long dry spells. July was unusually dry, however good falls in August provided a solid foundation for the vines to thrive in spring. Spring temperatures were generally warmer than average with favourable climactic conditions for budburst and flowering. Summer temperatures were near long-term average, with 21 days >35°C. Wrattonbully and Padthaway in the Southeast all had a favourable start to the growing season. Spring was notably warm, November especially, up +3°C on the long-term average. Wrattonbully had some isolated frost, but with minimal crop loss. Conditions for flowering were ideal, leading to excellent fruit set and yields. Padthaway yields were 25% above the norm. The Clare Valley experienced similar conditions to the Barossa Valley with only 11 days recorded above 35°C. Yields were low, especially on dry grown blocks, however that was offset by the exceptional fruit quality. Except for a few wet days in February, the predicted La Niña conditions failed to materialise. Overall, the summer and autumn conditions were cooler than average, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and evenly. An outstanding vintage for both cabernet sauvignon and shiraz.
97 Point Rated - Andrew Caillard MW
"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 stye. One of the best ever Bin 28 vintages."
96 Point Rated - Ray Jordan
"This is quite a firm statement of this classic Penfolds shiraz. Comes from a number of different regions and captures the character and style that is warm climate shiraz in Australia. Dark chocolate and black pudding with a plummy blackcurrant richness. The palate shows firm grainy tannins with the oak perfectly weighted. The assertive tannins with a minerally graphite edge really hold the whole deal together to promote that very long finish."
95 Point Rated - Jamie Goode
"Great concerntration and depth here, showing bold berry fruits, a bit of ripe black cherry, and then some finegrained tannins with a twist of sea salt on the finish. Fantastic depth, lots of ripe fruit, but also a sense of balance, with savoury in the mix as well as sweetness. Very impressive."
95 Point Rated - Bob Campbell The Real Review
Deep-tinted red that could double as ink. Delicately aromatic with layers of flavour evident of the palate.Cassis, dark chocolate/mocha/coffee, dried herbs/thyme/anise, and a suggestion of mineral characters. Herbs and spices add extra intrigue. This wine massively over-delivers at this price point. It's a poor man's Bin 389. Accessible now but with masses of cellaring potential.
93 Point Rated - Huon Hooke The Real Review
Good deep colour; aromas of black fruits and tar, graphite, ironstone, nutmeg and star anise, the palate firmly, boldly structured and emphatic, with notes of nutmeg again and assorted brown spices mingling with the black fruit flavours. Very approachable already but will obviously also age well. (McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Padthaway, Wrattonbully, Clare Valley)
92 Point Rated - Dave Brookes Halliday Wine Companion
A McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Padthaway, Wrattonbully and Clare Valley sourced shiraz matured in American oak (7% new) for 12 months. Deep crimson in the glass, the wine initially comes across a little shy, showing itself in the traditional Penfolds 'house style' after some time in the glass. Plentiful black and plummy fruit depth with hints of spice, roasting meats, soy sauce, charcuterie, Old Jamaica chocolate, licorice and earth. Tenses somewhat on the medium-length finish.
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