The backdrop to the Penfolds masterclass – Melbourne at its prettiest

While the Bin range and Grange are hogging all of the Penfolds attention today, there was two additional wines presented at the recent Penfolds Collection masterclass that have yet to be written about – and really deserve some more attention.

I suspect that the reason this duo weren’t written about is that details are still scarce, with release dates and prices still largely unknown. They both come from arguably the most innovative Penfolds line of all – the ‘Cellar Reserve’ range – which has yielded in recent years an ‘iced’ Viognier and an exceptional Merlot, not to mention Penfolds best Pinot Noir and Sangiovese.

If the 2012 Penfolds Cellar Reserve Cabernet Shiraz is anything to go by, expect some very exciting ‘Special Bin’ wines out of 2012…

Background notes are in italics.

Penfolds Cellar Reserve Durif 2013 (Barossa, SA) 13.5%
Sourced from a single grower out towards Koonunga Hill in the Barossa Valley. All French oak, less than 50% new. Total production circa 820 dozen.
Huge purple and boysenberry colour, so bright! Olives, boysenberry and black fruits. Still carries the tarriness and thickness of Durif, but really bright. Nice wine, if quite pithy and tart. 17.5/20, 91/100

Penfolds Cellar Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2012 (Coonawarra, SA & Barossa, SA) 14%
60% Coonawarra Cabernet and 40% Barossa Shiraz  100% new American oak. 850 cases produced.
Quite intoxicating nose – a classic American oak Penfolds nose. Intriguingly it feels rather more energetic than the 389 and the oak is swallowed up all that more than the 707. There’s a real buxom deliciousness to this actually, a cosseted, sweet oak and fruit style with driving tannins to finish. Real ageless Aussie red – I wanted to drink this.18.8/20, 95/100