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More wines available from Penfolds
Pre-Arrival
Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 169 2018
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$176.43
A very elegantly complex nose with meticulously fresh aromas that range from red florals to violets, blueberries,...
Pre-Arrival
Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 707 2010
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$387.49
A towering Cabernet, tightly wrapping its supple, expressive core of currant and boysenberry with subtle hints of...
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Winery
Penfolds
Vintage: 2011
The year 2011 was an interesting year for many northern and central European countries, as the weather was more than unpredictable in the spring and summer. However, in most countries, the climatic conditions thankfully settled down in the late summer and fall. The result of this slightly difficult year of weather in France was a set of surprisingly small yields, but overall, these yields were of a higher quality than those harvested in certain previous years. A fantastic set of wines was also made in Italy and Spain, and the Rioja wines - when released - are set to be very good indeed. Austria also had superb year in 2011, with almost fifty percent more grapes being grown and used for their distinctive Gruner Veltliner wines than in the year before. Possibly the European country which had the finest 2011, though, was Portugal, with wineries in the Douro region claiming this year to be one of the best in decades for the production of Port wine, and the bright, young Vinho Verdes wines.
In the New World, the Pacific Northwest saw some of the best weather of 2011, and Washington State and Oregon reportedly had a highly successful year, especially for the cultivation of high quality red wine grapes. Chile and Argentina had a relatively cool year, which certainly helped retain the character of many of their key grape varietals, and should make for some exciting drinking. South Africa had especially good weather for their white wine grape varietals, particularly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and many South African wineries are reporting 2011 as one of their best years in recent memory.
Varietal: Syrah
Whilst there remains plenty of debate over which is the 'correct' name for the Shiraz/Syrah grape varietal, nobody is in any doubt about the influence and popularity this grape has had over recent decades. For centuries, this varietal has been used in single variety and blended wines in the regions of France it is most closely associated with, yet the 20th century saw it become one of the definitive grape varietals of New World red wines, where its big, robust character and spicy, berry-rich flavors proved to be a hit with international audiences. Today, Shiraz/Syrah is said to be the seventh most widely planted grape varietal in the world, and is used for a remarkably wide variety of quality red wines – including still, sparkling and fortified varieties.
Region: Barossa
The Barossa Valley in Australia is home to the country's finest vineyards, and has been the premier wine region of Australia for several decades now. First established by German settlers in the late 19th century, Barossa Valley suffered a drop in reputation in the 1950s and 60s, with most of their produce being used only for blending purposes. Thanks to the vision and ambition of several unique and interesting wineries which decided to make Barossa their home, the reputation of this excellent region was restored over the past four decades due to the excellence of the produce coming out of Barossa, and the efforts made to demonstrate the real qualities of Australia's Shiraz wines. Today, a wide range of grape varietals are grown on the fine soil and in the temperate climate of Barossa, and they are enjoyed across the globe.
Country: Australia
Whilst most of Australia consists of arid deserts and dense bushland, the oceanic coasts to the south of the country have a terrain and climate ideal for vine cultivation and wine production. It took several decades of failed attempts at the end of the 18th century in order to produce vines of a decent enough quality for making wine, but since those first false starts, the Australian wine industry has continued to grow and grow. Today, wine production makes up for a considerable part of the Australian economy, with exports in recent years reaching unprecedented levels and even overtaking France for the first time ever. Whilst the greatest successes in regards to quality have been the result of the Syrah grape varietal (known locally as Shiraz), Australia utilizes several Old World grapes, and has had fantastic results from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Chardonnay and more. As the Australian passion for locally produced wine continues to develop, wineries have begun experimenting with a wider range of grape varietals, meaning that nowadays it isn't uncommon to find high quality Australian wines made from Petit Verdot, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Viognier, amongst many others.