1998 Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz

BACKGROUND: This is very important to Penfolds as the grapes are sourced from the original Magill property as established by Christopher Rawson Penfold. Only 5 hectares remain, nestled in the suburbs of Adelaide. The grapes are hand picked,basket pressed and then placed in open fermenters. The wine was matured for 16 months in new French and American oak.

VINTAGE CONDITIONS: The growing season began late, due to cool spring weather. However, a warm summer led to an early vintage with excellent fruit quality.

TASTING NOTE: Opaque crimson colour, with purple hues. Magnificent nose, perfumed with aroma of liquorice, vanilla, spice and blackpepper. The palate displays the essence of refinement, showing remarkable depth and persistence. Superbintegration of flavour, in fact seamless, in its quality with flavours of spice, mocca, liquorice and vanilla. Very fine tannins, with exceptionally long aftertaste. Cellar 8-10 years.

RATING: 94/100

VALUE: XXXX/5