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Product Name
Vintage
Price
Varietal
Country
Region
Appellation
Size
Additional Discount
Original Item
2008
$240.91
Cabernet Sauvignon
Australia
Limestone Coast
Coonawarra
750ml
N/A
Better Price
2018
$176.56
Cabernet Sauvignon
Australia
Limestone Coast
Coonawarra
750ml
Similar Price
2004
$238.69
Cabernet Sauvignon
Australia
Barossa
Barossa Valley
750ml
Better Price, Better Score
2018
$169.93
Cabernet Sauvignon
Australia
Barossa
Eden Valley
750ml
6B / $166.53
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Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 169 2018
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More Details
Winery
Penfolds
Vintage: 2008
2008 saw very high yields across wineries in much of the southern hemisphere, as a result of highly favorable climatic conditions. Although in many areas, these high yields brought with them something of a drop in overall quality, this could not be said for South Australia's wines, which were reportedly excellent. Indeed, the 2008 Shiraz harvest in South Australia is said to be one of the most successful in recent decades, and western Australia's Chardonnays are set to be ones to watch out for. New Zealand's Pinot Noir harvest was also very good, with wineries in Martinborough reportedly very excited about this particular grape and the characteristics it revealed this year.
Pinot Noir also grew very well in the United States, and was probably the most successful grape varietal to come out of California in 2008, with Sonoma Coast and Anderson Valley delivering fantastic results from this grape. Elsewhere in United States, Washington State and Oregon had highly successful harvests in 2008 despite some early worries about frost.
However, it was France who had the best of the weather and growing conditions in 2008, and this year was one of the great vintages for Champagne, the Médoc in Bordeaux, Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence, with Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay grapes leading the way. Italy, too, shared many of these ideal conditions, with the wineries in Tuscany claiming that their Chianti Classicos of 2008 will be ones to collect, and Piedmont's Barberesco and Barolo wines will be recognized as amongst the finest of the past decade.
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
By far and away the most recognized and widely grown red wine grape varietal in the world is the Cabernet Sauvignon. First cultivated in the 18th century in France, this wonderful cross of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc grapes has long since been the most important varietal for red wines across the globe. Now grown everywhere from its native France to the furthest reaches of the New World, Cabernet Sauvignon is adored and prized by wineries for its hardiness and resistance to rot, as well as its large and sharp flavors and wonderful capability for fine aging Indeed, many of the finest wines of history and the modern age would be simply unimaginable without Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, with the famed wineries of Bordeaux and other important regions using it as the primary grape in their oak aged produce. High tannin levels, acidity and powerful flavors are the characteristics most commonly associated with this varietal, however, when blended and slowly aged, it is capable of a world of flavors and aromas unmatched by any other grape.
Region: Limestone Coast
In south-eastern Australia, close to the border of Victoria, we find the Limestone Coast – one of Australia's best known and most highly regarded wine regions which produces up to a third of the country's wines each year. Limestone Coast is notably for many reasons; the cool, maritime climate which allows the grapes to ripen slowly and fully makes it a favorite for vintners and wine lovers alike, and the high quality soil rich in minerals often results in characterful wines with plenty of terroir expression. Interestingly, unlike other Australian wine regions, the Limestone Coast has a very healthy water table, meaning that irrigation is no issue in the region, and the vines remain healthy even through the dry ripening season. Plenty of different varietals flourish there, and red wine grapes grow to full ripeness in the warmer areas of the coastline, whilst fine white varietals such as Viognier grow very well indeed in the cooler parts.
Country: Australia
Whilst every Australian state has some level of wine production, it is in South Australia and on the island of Tasmania where the finest wines are made to the highest quantities. Here, the scorching Australian sun is a little tamer, and the heat is tempered by brisk oceanic winds, making the climate of these regions ideal for vineyard cultivation. The Tamar Valley on Tasmania has been making waves internationally in recent years, as both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grape varietals are thriving there and resulting in hugely flavorful wines, which are at once distinctly Australian, yet remain unique and interesting enough to surprise and impress. Elsewhere in the country, the Syrah grape (known locally as Shiraz) reigns supreme, as the long, hot summers allow these grapes to ripen fully and lend their intensely fruit-forward character to the ruby red Australian wines, which have such international appeal.