Out Of The Bottle
With David Ellis RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz & 2009 Bin 2009 Adelaide Hills
For
shrewd investors this is the month to decide which of Penfolds annual
May flagship releases will go into the investment cellar, and which
will be put aside for that very special celebration coming up in the
next year or two.
And while every year’s flagships are as keenly
anticipated by wine-tragics as they are by investors, this year’s 2008
vintage inclusions are causing particular interest: conditions that
year were perfect for crafting classic, long-living Penfolds wines of
enormous fruit intensity, quality and colour.
This year’s
flagships comprise the 2006 Grange ($599,) 2008 Yattarna Chardonnay
($129.99,) Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon ($189.99,) RWT Barossa Valley
Shiraz ($174.99,) Magill Estate Shiraz ($114.99,) St Henri Shiraz
($89.99) and Reserve Bin 09A Adelaide Hills Chardonnay ($89.99.)
Penfolds
Grange needs no introduction, and Chief Winemaker, Peter Gago defines
the 2006 as a wine “of substance, fruit sweetness and buoyancy, latent
power and overall richness: very Penfolds, very Barossa, very Grange.”
He
is equally ecstatic about the 2008 RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz as being
“a contender for our best RWT Shiraz yet,” and notes that for
Chardonnay lovers the 2009 Bin 09A Adelaide Hills has garnered no fewer
than eight Trophies and Gold Medals at national wine shows – before
even being released. One For Lunch
South Australia’s
Katnook Estate has released its first-ever blend, a red comprising 58%
Cabernet, 28% Shiraz, 9% Petit Verdot and 5% Tannat, and labelled The
Caledonian in deference to Scotsman John Riddoch who founded the
Coonawarra region in the 1890s, and made his second vintage in a
woolshed that’s now Katnook Estate’s barrel room.
This 2009
release has ripe savoury dark berry flavours with hints of mulberries
and spicy plum. Only 3000 bottles were made: order at
www.katnookestate.com.au, pay $45 and enjoy with pepper steak.
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