2008 Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz 750ml

Critic tasting note: (2008 vintage) "Tar, mint, lifted blueberry and chocolate ganache dance on the nose. The midpalate is seamless, there is an exquisite textural finesse that shines with tar, cocoa, vanilla and blueberry while an edge of minty brightness lends freshness. It is this freshness that characterises the entire wine and lends it timeless poise. Wonderful now but will evolve." - 99/100, Falstaff Drinking Window: 2016 - 2056 Blend: 98% Syrah & 2% Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard Notes Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Magill Estate. Vintage Notes Declared a vintage of two distinct halves, with well-balanced fruit at optimum baume levels achievable with an early harvest. A seamless growing season with steady, early season growth and healthy canopy development. Cool and dry conditions during the start of summer meant that vines were poised for a textbook harvest and conditions were conducive to excellent flavour, colour and phenolic development. New Year temperatures would eventually crescendo in ensuing months, dry conditions would persevere and March the 3rd served as a pivot point—cleaving the vintage into the two well defined halves resulting in a profound difference in quality of fruit picked. Old vines with balanced canopies capitalised on the perfect growing conditions preceding the heat spell. “Weighted-average vintage charts may not do justice to the South Australian harvest in 2008. Penfolds reds will.” Ageing Matured for 19 months in new American oak hogsheads. Producer Tasting Notes COLOUR Impenetrable dark core. NOSE Somewhat intimidating? Yes. Brazen? Never. An immediate and powerful lift of cola/soy/hoisin/red licorice, propelled by tea-smoke and ferric influences. Less obvious nut-husk/tan-bark notes align with lush aromas of ripe (jamon-wrapped) figs and a panaforte plushness. With air, blueberry fruits and mocha arise, the oak (100% new!) remaining concealed—too much aromatic background chatter to register! PALATE A muscular push/wave/affront across the entire palate—from start to finish. Never oppressive nor ungainly, yet captivatingly forceful. i.e. a vinous lava flow of dark licorice and malt—‘molten’, with a self-saucing chocolate pudding richness and blackberry, elderberry fruits. Pronounced tannins are unleashed, and the Clare component makes its (9%) presence felt, adding to both flavour pool and extract. Power and density naturally respectful of balance and structure.