Penfolds unveils new collection from four corners of the globe

 

The invitations drop in late April. Hardly anyone declines. 

The Penfolds Collection 2026 Preview Tasting is one of the major wine tastings of the year. 

But attendees, brilliantly looked after, have certain rules that must be followed. 

Tastings are conducted by chief winemaker Peter Gago (below) and his team around the world. 

Australian trade media, journalists and educators tasted in Adelaide in June - at EOS by Sky City and then at Magill Estate. 

Others sniffed, sipped and spat in London, New York and Paris. The wines will be released on August 6. 

All of us who attended the tastings were all sworn to secrecy. No tasting notes to be published until today’s deadline. No sneaky social media bottle images.  

Everyone has had time to consider their notes - and thoughts. The 99s and 98s will flow freely today. Probably a 100 or two. 

What struck me most about the tasting was the way the Penfolds style is now reflected across a global range of wines: from the US to France and China. 

The bold and rich Bordeaux-style 2023 FWT (French Winemaking Trial) 585 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Petit Verdot shines, while the immediately approachable 2024 CWT (Chinese Winemaking Trial) Bin 521, a blend of cabernet and marselan, is absolutely outstanding and a tribute to the winemaking skills across the team.

“No longer a novelty, no fancy wordsmithing – all of these wines are unmistakably Penfolds, sourced from different hemispheres,” says Gago.

This year’s domestic release is anchored by the 75th Anniversary of Grange, with the outstanding 2022 released this year - as usual as a wine with four years of bottle age.

“The 2022 Grange assuredly authenticates its flagship role and 75th anniversary credentials," says Gago. "No pressure. Both timely and lucky - to avail such a stellar vintage in such a symbolic year.”

Marking three-quarters of a century since its first experimental vintage in 1951, the anniversary release pays tribute to Grange’s evolution from an experimental wine crafted by Penfolds maiden chief
winemaker, Max Schubert, to a global icon.

 


We lucky invitees were also able to taste several back vintages of Grange, all with that unmistakable line of quality. The imperious new release comprises 85% Barossa fruit, aided by McLaren Vale and Coonawarra material.  

Inky, rich, sumptuous. Take your pick of adjectives.

For those who do not have a grand to drop on a bottle, I can recommend the fulsome and inviting 2024 Magill Estate Shiraz and the brilliant 2023 St Henri Shiraz. 

The other stars of the release include brilliantly balanced cabernet sauvignons. The complex and fine 2024 Penfolds Bin 707 and its younger sibling Bin 407 - a definite cellar prospect - serve as outstanding examples of multi-regional South Australian blends.

For chardonnay lovers Yattarna and Bin 311, both from 2024, are both wines of purity and definition, while the 2025 Bin 23 Pinot Noir is arguably the best release of that wine yet.

"Nothing stands still," Gago says. Yet through thick and thin, across the years, these Collection wines stand tall." 

 

He's right.  

Hey, hey it's Wynnsday

Lovers of  balanced, cellar worthy, medium-bodied red wines have today's date marked on their calendars. 

Sue Hodder and the Wynns Coonawarra Estate team launch their new annual premium releases on Wynnsday - and the wines certainly live up to expectations with a spectacular Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon heading the value parade.

Established in 1951 with history dating back to the late 1800s, Wynns Coonawarra Estate is the region's pre-eminent wine producer, and largest single vineyard holder. 

Its wines are regarded as benchmarks for the district; lauded for both their consistent quality and depth of flavour.

Hodder says the collection released today reflects "a golden era" at the estate.

“Wynnsday 2021 sees the return of our flagship wines, John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon and Michael Shiraz from the acclaimed, warmer 2018 vintage," Hodder says. 

"Additionally, our single-vineyard wine from 2018 is made from our oldest cabernet vineyard - Johnsons. 

"That said, 2019 was an equally lauded vintage – more elegant and a worthy style to contrast with 2018. 

"The Black Label Shiraz and Black Label Cabernet will be strong vintages in vertical tastings of these iconic labels." 

Also, Sarah Pidgeon has made finely-structured, early picked wines from the Wynns V and A Lane vineyards in 2019.

“The two release vintages - 2018 and 2019 - are as strong a pair I have seen in my 30 years at Wynns," Hodder says. 

The bargain buy is undoubtedly the Black Label 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon ($45). 

First produced in 1954, this wine has a reputation for ageing gracefully and displaying excellent varietal and regional characteristics. It is already lovely and well balanced and will grace many cellars for years to come. 

Another standout for me is V&A Lane 2019 Cabernet Shiraz ($60), a delightful blend to send heartbeats racing. Everything with in its place here. Hugely impressive.

The star of the show, not unexpectedly, is the 2018 vintage Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon ($150)

First made in 1982, the John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon is Wynns flagship wine. It is made in small quantities from the best available fruit grown on the estate's extensive cabernet sauvignon plantings. Brambly and intense. One for the cellar, for sure

The collection is available now from fine wine retailers across Australia.

The full line-up is:Black Label Cabernet & Shiraz 2019, V&A Lane Cabernet Shiraz & Shiraz 2019, Johnsons single vineyard Cabernet 2018, Michael Shiraz 2018, John Riddoch Cabernet 2018

 See www.wynns.com.au

New wine releases pay tribute to 165 years of history

Wine drinkers who enjoy high-quality wines that are still relatively affordable will be looking forward to Thursday, when Hardys release the latest vintage wines across their Icon range. 

The new releases comprise the Thomas Hardy Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Eileen Hardy Chardonnay 2019 and Eileen Hardy Shiraz 2018.  

I taste tasted the new releases a couple of weeks ago while on Bruny Island via a Zoom tasting with new Hardys chief winemaker Nigel Sneyd. 

This range prolongs the legacy of industry pioneer Thomas Hardy - hailed as the father of the South Australian wine industry - who in 1853, against a backdrop of global uncertainty, launched his brand. 

Sneyd, a Master of Wine, says the latest Icon wines are blends of South Australia’s finest landscapes and represent the multi-regional blending approach to winemaking that Thomas Hardy first established last century. 

The release is timed so the wines can be enjoyed now, or confidently be cellared.

“As one of Australia’s oldest and most iconic wineries, Hardys is well known for consistently crafting wines of excellence and is committed to keeping Thomas Hardy’s pioneering spirit alive," says Sneyd.

"These are truly remarkable drops that embody the pinnacle of Australian winemaking." 

The Eileen Hardy Shiraz 2018 ($153.99) and Eileen Hardy Chardonnay 2019 ($117.99) will be available at Dan Murphy’s, Vintage Cellars and select independent retailers nationally and the Thomas Hardy Cabernet Sauvignon ($159.99) at Dan's and independent outlets. 

The reds are comfortable, thoroughly modern wines with less high acidity than some of their predecessors; the chardonnay a blend of Yarra Valley and Margaret River fruit that is full of malo richness, stone fruit and classy oak but less steely than previous incarnations featuring Tasmanian fruit. 

The shiraz is the star of the show for immediate vinous gratification  a single-vineyard wine using grapes from 70-year-old vines at Upper Tintara in McLaren Vale - just near the Hardys winery. This is simply delicious; velvety and plush with soft tannins and tremendous length. 

The cabernet is "the best the company can make", a blend of Coonawarra and Margaret River fruit hat is dense with firm tannins. It is a big, masculine wine with black fruits and tapenade notes that will rest happily in many cellars for a good while. 

Summing up: drink the shiraz now, the chardonnay over the next five years and the cabernet when everyone has forgotten who the Kardashians were. 

 

# Hardys wines are sold in over 130 countries. Hardys has received more than 9,000 Australian and international awards in its 165+ years and the brand is now owned by Accolade Wines.