Penfolds Collection 2021

BY JOSH RAYNOLDS | JULY 23, 2021

This year’s Penfolds collection consists of all of their icon bottlings, including a few surprises. The most significant are two new wines, Superblend 802-A and Superblend 802-B, both from the 2018 vintage. These are Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz blends, with the “A” (68% Cabernet and 32% Shiraz) raised in French oak and the “B” (55% Cabernet and 45% Shiraz) matured in American oak, in the classic Penfolds style. In 2017, the flagship Grange was made entirely from Shiraz, only the seventh time this has happened since the first Grange was produced in 1951. In addition, a Pinot Noir, Bin 23, from the Adelaide Hills, is now part of the collection, but production is still tiny.

Some of these bottlings have been among Australia’s most well-known and sought-after reds and whites for years, especially Grange, unquestionably Australia’s benchmark wine. China has been one of Penfolds’ biggest markets for the past decade but the current trade war and the ensuing tariffs (up to 220%), obviously mean that the Chinese allocation is going elsewhere, making these wines more available for now.

The 2021 Riesling Bin 51 might be the best version of that wine I have ever had. It is easily one of Australia’s best renditions of the variety. The 2020 Chardonnay Bin 311 offers excellent value while the 2019 Chardonnay Yattarna Bin 144 should be one of the longest-lived editions yet. The small-production 2020 Chardonnay Reserve Bin A shows a bit less tension than the Yattarna but it’s still built for aging.

Fans of generous Pinot Noir will appreciate the 2020 Bin 23, a fairly new wine for Penfolds, which is made primarily from relatively young vines in the Adelaide Hills. Vineyards in Tasmania and Henty are also included in this vintage’s blend, most likely the reason for the wine’s fruity exuberance and welcoming texture. This bottling will no doubt continue to evolve in the coming years.