WHILE the Australian wine industry has been in much publicised turmoil for the past decade, the wine making team at Penfolds have been producing wines of such quality that it confirms that the Peter Gago-led team have not been distracted.
The 2006 and 2008 vintage reds are exceptional and now the Penfolds wine making team is saying 2010 is also an almost faultless vintage as well.
The guys have deferred to fashion for the first time in recent years and are now proudly releasing two Pinot Noirs (the coming red variety) each vintage and will also trial amounts of varieties such as Sangiovese.
Penfolds is also returning after nearly 30 years to its Bin 2 Shiraz Mourvedre label – presumably because the GSM (Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre) blends are gaining traction.
Penfolds Bin 2 Mourvedre 2010
This is lighter and fresher then you would expect from a Penfolds’ red and it displays lively cool area white pepper.
It is leaner rather than big and ripe, and shows excellent length with finesse from the classy winemaking input. Quite young now but it is just beginning to come together and Penfolds suggest drinking between 2012 and 2024
18 points RRP $37
Penfolds Bin 8 Cabernet Shiraz 2010
25 to 35 years ago when the Australian red wine industry moved lemming-like to cabernet sauvignon, Penfolds proudly stayed shiraz dominant (except for Bin 707) and later the pendulum swung back.
Years later when the industry began producing cabernet blends, Penfolds resolutely continued to produce small quantities of 100 per cent cabernet (Bin 707 and 407).
The Penfolds winemaking team obviously has self belief as, once again defying the odds, they have added a new Cabernet Shiraz release to this supposedly out of fashion blend, to join the famous Bin 389.
Predominantly McLaren Vale and Barossa and Coonawarra material, this is warm, round, balanced and generous.
The fruit is of real quality and the winemaking team have brought the finish and aftertaste together marvellously.
Texturally, it is almost seamless.
18.1pts RRP $37
Yep, Penfolds reds remain among the very best and best values.