Penfolds releases its 2022 Collection this month, which for the first time comprises three country of origin portfolios, with Australia, the United States and France all showcasing a global view of the Penfolds ‘house style’.
In addition The Collection also features the 2018 Grange, which has already been awarded 100 Points from a number of key wine critics including Andrew Caillard MW, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW and Nick Stock.
It is the first time a wine from France has appeared in the Penfolds Collection and the wine is made in partnership with respected Bordeaux House, Dourthe Bordeaux. Penfolds Chief Winemaker Peter Gago and Dourthe Chief Winemaker Frédéric Bonnaffous have collaborated to create Penfolds II Cabernet Shiraz Merlot 2019, a wine featuring 71 per cent Bordeaux grapes and 29 per cent South Australian grapes.
“This is the start of our French winemaking journey. Our main objective? To remain true to the winemaking ethos of both wineries, to deliver the best blend possible, to ideally make Bordeaux and South Australia proud. This wine is not about bigness or boldness or assertion. It is blended to convey an ethereal lightness, subtlety on the palate – sensitively binding two hemispheres, Old World and New,” said Gago.
Dourthe CEO Patrick Jestin added: “To push the boundaries and craft such a blend was an unexpected and utterly fascinating concept. Collaborating and cultivating firm friendships with the Penfolds winemaking team in blending such an exceptional wine was a dream come true. For us, this was ground-breaking, resulting in a totally original, innovative wine – Penfolds II – which far surpassed all our expectations, while remaining true to the culture and style of our respective countries and houses.”
The second wine to be released in August is the 2019 Penfolds FWT 585: A trial Bin wine made of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Penfolds explained that since 2018, many trials and blends were tasted throughout the classification process where comprehensive and focussed wine trials marked the beginning of this new chapter for Penfolds in France. The Trial wine was made at Cambon la Pelouse Winery with Penfolds Senior Winemaker Emma Wood on the ground, in the cellars and in the vineyards.
“Many great Penfolds wines were born from experimentation and trial; RWT 798 (Red Winemaking Trial) Barossa Valley Shiraz, Yattarna Bin 144 (144 winemaking trials) 1951 (experimental) Grange – and now FWT 585. The wines made in France pay respect to French terroir, yet one thing remains overly consistent…the Penfolds stamp. Just like our California wines…. we have the French sun above and soil beneath, but everything in between is Penfolds,” said Gago.
The 2022 Australian release is led by the 68th consecutive release of Penfolds 2018 Grange, which is already being talked about alongside the favourite vintages of 1978, 1998 and 2008.
Gago said of the wine: “’78, ’98 and ’08 Granges … three favourites. The 2018 Grange? Just graduated, add to the list! This 2018 release purportedly answers to two IDs: ‘A well-dressed Grange … classy rock star, or ‘a modern, classic Grange … sleek and finessed, with a punch!’ You choose.”
Caillard said: “A glorious year for Grange. This will last 50 years at least. Wonderful. One of the greatest vintages of all time, highlighting a superb growing season, marvellous vineyard management, the fidelity of the Penfolds house style and generations of imagination and effort.”
The 2018 Grange is one of 21 wines in this year’s Penfolds Collection, and its carries a $1000 RRP tag.
The collection also includes three wines from California – the 2019 Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bin 704 Cabernet Sauvignon and Bin 600 Cabernet Shiraz.
Penfolds Managing Director Tom King said “Penfolds is building a global ambition not just on paper but with our feet in vineyards across two hemispheres. We are focussed on making Penfolds wines from the best winemaking regions globally…We started this journey with our partnership with Champagne (Thienot), then brought to life a 20-year endeavour with the California wine release, and now, we proudly introduce a partnership with leading a Bordeaux winery and reveal our own 2019 Trial Bin wine in France.”
The Penfolds Collection 2022 wines are available from Thursday 4th August 2022 at Penfolds Cellar Doors (Magill Estate Winery and Barossa Valley Cellar Door) in Australia and select fine wine stores globally.