2002 ««««« Drink now to 2035.
Medium-deep crimson. Intense blackberry aromas with vanilla and herb garden notes. Fresh blackberry, blackcurrant, dark plum demi-glace flavours, fine-grained tannins, lovely mid-palate viscosity and roasted chestnut and vanilla mocha oak complexity. Velvety firm/chocolaty finish. Impressively balanced wine.
Lovely fragrance with blue and black fruits sliding across the palate. (JH)
Fresh black fruits with cedar notes. A lovely tight fully ripe palate with fine-grained tannins. Very expressive. (FW)
2003 «« Drink now.
Medium-deep crimson. Attractive dark plum and blackberry aromas and flavours with tobacco/roasted chestnut/silage notes. Some mid-palate richness and fine sinewy firm tannins. A medium-bodied and slightly disjointed wine at present.
2004 ««««« Drink now to 2035.
Medium-deep crimson. Attractive dark cherry, plum and praline aromas with hint of tar. Plush and concentrated with dark cherry, plum, blackberry, rich dark chocolate and tarry flavours, fine-dense satin tannins and underlying roasted chestnut and vanilla oak. Chalky dry finish with attractive mineral length.
Fresh black fruits progressively unfurl their sails. A powerfully complete wine. (JH)
A gorgeous wine with beautiful dark fruits and polished velvety tannins. (JR)
2005 ««« Drink now to 2030.
Medium-deep crimson. Fresh mulberry and cranberry with eucalypt aromas and toasty vanilla notes. A well-concentrated, inky wine with fresh mulberry, minty flavours, slinky/chalky tannins and integrated savoury oak. Finishes vigorously firm with persistent acidity. An elegantly styled wine that could build more richness with age.
Intense red fruits with woodsmoke, underbrush and incense notes. Very drying on the palate and completely parched on the finish. (NB)
A pleasing but atypical Barossa style with a surprising touch of mintiness. Light, elegant and smooth on the palate. (FW)
2006 ««««« Drink now to 2038.
Medium-deep crimson. Classic dark berry and dark chocolate aromas with meaty vanilla notes. Dense blackberry, praline and graphite flavours with fine grainy/al dente textures, persistent fine acidity and savoury mocha oak. Well-balanced wine with underlying roasted chestnut, polished leather notes.
Luminous, elegant and succulent with clear deep dark berry fruits, and persistent, vice-like tannins. (NB)
An exceptional RWT with layered depth and power. (NR)
2007 «««« Drink now to 2035.
Medium-deep crimson. Espresso roasted coffee, blackberry and dark chocolate aromas with graphite leafy notes. Generously concentrated with rich and dense evolving blackberry, inky espresso flavours, fine slinky/leafy tannins and beautifully assimilated acidity. Surprising symmetry of elements.
A luscious wine with smoky, spicy floral notes and suave round tannins. Finishes chewy with spicy notes. (JR)
Open, generous and black fruited with chocolate and mocha notes. Quite sweet and generous with lovely concentration. (FW)
2008 ««««« Drink now to 2050.
Deep crimson. Intense fresh youthful blackberry, dark cherry aromas with praline panforte notes. Beautiful and plush ripe blackberry, dark plum and inky fruits with brick dust/fine ripe tannins and plentiful, new vanilla oak complexity. Impressively buoyant, seductive and compact with ample sweet fruit flavours and fine assertive structure. Should go the full distance.
Intense vivid and ripe black and blue fruits with attractive richness and oak balance on the palate. Acidity a touch sharp at the finish. (NB)
Classic Penfolds red wine with the fruit at peak of ripeness without being overripe. (JH)
2009 «««« Drink now to 2040.
Deep crimson. Fragrant blackberry, herb garden, amaro/chinotto aromas. Concentrated and chalky dense with deep-set blackberry, dark chocolate and panforte flavours, fine plentiful dry tannins and toasty vanilla oak. Finishes leafy firm with bittersweet notes. Lovely minerally wine with elegant fruit and persistent tannins.
Perfumed and spicy with lovely clarity of fruit, juicy energy and elegant fine tannins. (JR)
Exotically spiced, sweet and sour wine with sappy green notes threaded through. (NR)
2010 ««««« Drink now to 2060.
Deep crimson. Black cherry, blackcurrant, dark chocolate and raspberry liquorice aromas with vanilla, roasted chestnut and panforte notes. Superbly concentrated/ saturated wine with inky black cherry and blackberry fruits, fine plentiful grainy tannins, lovely mid-palate viscosity and balanced mocha oak nuances. Chocolaty rich finish with long gravelly plume.
Outstanding elegance, freshness, persistence and finesse. Very pure fruited with gentle spice notes, polished tannins and supportive oak. (NB)
Beautifully spiced and lusciously layered. An easy momentum across the palate, not shying away from fruit richness and depth, but never succumbing to sluggishness or heft. (NR)
2011 ««« Drink now to 2030.
Medium-deep crimson. Developed blackberry, dark plum and cranberry aromas with cedar/tobacco/meaty notes. Generous and fleshy with developed dark plum, cherry, cranberry fruits, supple loose-knit chalky textures and underlying cedar oak. Finishes firm and minerally. Transcends the reputation of the vintage.
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