ANTONIO GALLONI 96 POINTS - "These new releases are Penfolds' foray into Napa Valley, a project I had been hearing about for some time. I recently sat down with Chief Winemaker Peter Gago to taste the new 2018s, virtually of course. These four wines are part of a larger plan that includes the addition of single vineyard bottlings in the future. Penfolds is no stranger to the United States. For a period of time starting in the late 1980s Penfolds was a part-owner of Geyser Peak. In 1997, Penfolds acquired land outside Paso Robles and subsequently planted vineyards in 1998 and 1999."
"The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 149 is a blend of fruit from Rutherford, Calistoga and Oakville plus 15% South Australia Cabernet. Inky, deep and unctuous, the 2018 is a total knock-out. Although quite opulent and rich in feel, the 2018 also has tons of backing structure to balance things out. All the elements come together effortlessly. It was aged in 100% new oak, 80% French and 20% America"
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 95 POINTS - "A good portion, 85.1%, of this 'Wine of the World' comes from America. In fact, the American component all comes from Napa. 'There are some great vineyards going in here,' Peter Gago informed me. 'We are buying some fruit for this, but most of it comes off our own vineyards.' By 'own vineyards,' Gago refers to the considerable land holdings of Treasury Wine Estates, which now owns such iconic Napa names such as Beringer, Sterling Vineyards and Stags' Leap Winery. The major component of this component, 28%, comes from Rutherford, with the other components 'cherry picked' from across the Napa region. So, that is the American wine part of this wine.
"The remaining 14.9% of this wine is from Australia—A1 grade Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon from South Australia, to be precise.
"Then the wine was fermented in barrel, like Grange, using 80% American oak and 20% French oak, 100% new. It was matured in the oak for 16 months.
"Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 149 slips gracefully out of the glass with notions of wild blueberries, blackcurrant cordial and mulberries with an undercurrent of Indian spices, sandalwood, cigar box and dusty soil plus a touch of garrigue. Full-bodied, rich and decadently played in the mouth, it has firm, rounded tannins and bold freshness supporting the voluptuous layers, finishing long and spicy. The adaption of some of the Grange 'formula' (for want of a better term) of winemaking seems to lend more of an Australian style to this wine, although there is no mistaking the Napa Cabernet fruit profile in all but the texture of the tannins, which are more typical of Australia. It's a true chimera! 1,393 cases were made."
"The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 149 is a blend of fruit from Rutherford, Calistoga and Oakville plus 15% South Australia Cabernet. Inky, deep and unctuous, the 2018 is a total knock-out. Although quite opulent and rich in feel, the 2018 also has tons of backing structure to balance things out. All the elements come together effortlessly. It was aged in 100% new oak, 80% French and 20% America"
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 95 POINTS - "A good portion, 85.1%, of this 'Wine of the World' comes from America. In fact, the American component all comes from Napa. 'There are some great vineyards going in here,' Peter Gago informed me. 'We are buying some fruit for this, but most of it comes off our own vineyards.' By 'own vineyards,' Gago refers to the considerable land holdings of Treasury Wine Estates, which now owns such iconic Napa names such as Beringer, Sterling Vineyards and Stags' Leap Winery. The major component of this component, 28%, comes from Rutherford, with the other components 'cherry picked' from across the Napa region. So, that is the American wine part of this wine.
"The remaining 14.9% of this wine is from Australia—A1 grade Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon from South Australia, to be precise.
"Then the wine was fermented in barrel, like Grange, using 80% American oak and 20% French oak, 100% new. It was matured in the oak for 16 months.
"Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 149 slips gracefully out of the glass with notions of wild blueberries, blackcurrant cordial and mulberries with an undercurrent of Indian spices, sandalwood, cigar box and dusty soil plus a touch of garrigue. Full-bodied, rich and decadently played in the mouth, it has firm, rounded tannins and bold freshness supporting the voluptuous layers, finishing long and spicy. The adaption of some of the Grange 'formula' (for want of a better term) of winemaking seems to lend more of an Australian style to this wine, although there is no mistaking the Napa Cabernet fruit profile in all but the texture of the tannins, which are more typical of Australia. It's a true chimera! 1,393 cases were made."
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