Restrained, savoury, structure.
Made from Shiraz grown in McLaren Vale, Padthaway and Barossa and aged in (partially new) larger American oak barrels.
Aromas of charred spices and black fruits are layered with smoked meat, dark cocoa, tealeaf and at the core, a burst of tangier red fruits. It is restrained and has a brooding side, is still youthful and tightly wound but shows complexity and freshness, balance and structure. Decant if drinking now, or cellar for a few more years.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 29th, 2020

Elegant, complex, buttery. Expect spiced nuts and buttered toast, yellow apples and grilled lemon aromas with vanilla and whiffs of matchstick. It front-loads sweet golden fruit that is supported by toasty, nutty and buttery flavours. Woven, postured and complex--an elegant and fresh Chardy.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 21st, 2020

Woodsy, complex, brooding.
Made from 54% Cabernet and 46% Shiraz grown in McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Barossa and Wrattonbully and aged in (partially new) larger American oak barrels.
The nose here is woodsy; cedar chips and tealeaf, savoury spices, and dark chocolate, cracked black pepper and dark flowers. It has a serious nearly brooding demeanor; dark fruits, peppery spices, dark chocolate and espresso flavours lead to a fresh finish.
It has complexity, depth and posture but decant if drinking now, or cellar for a few more years.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 29th, 2020

Seductive, complex, youthful.
Made from Cabernet grown in McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Barossa, Coonawarra and Wrattonbully and aged in (partially new) larger French and American oak barrels.
Expect seductive and plush aromas of black raspberry and cassis, vanilla, pipe tobacco, crushed flowers, Asian spices and licorice. It doles out sweet purple fruit and spice flavours; is supple and fresh but still youthful and wound up. Lovely complexity, depth and posture but decant if drinking now, or cellar for a few more years.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 29th, 2020

Savoury, boozy, slick.
A wine inspired by Penfold's former winemaker Max Schubert, this year a special Lunar New Year bottle arrived wrapped with scarlet red cello label (not shown).
It has boozy cassis and mulberry aromas woven with vanilla, chocolate, pipe tobacco and an umani whiff of tomato leaf. The palate is savoury and meaty with brown spices, iodine and molasses and soy. It has a slick weight and good structure, the finish trails tobacco.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - February 25th, 2020