1998 Penny's Hill Shiraz

How is it that a top Australian red is better known in the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore and the USA than it is in Australia? In the last 10 years, the Australian wine industry has experienced extremely strong growth. The volume of wine exported has increased 466%, whereas the volume of wine produced over the same period has increased by only 112%. The international markets have discovered that Australia offers more flavour per dollar than wine from any other country. Australian exporters established a new record in April this year with sales reaching $1293 million. Today, there are 1197 wineries in Australia and consequently, it’s impossible to know all the wines or winemakers.

The Penny’s Hill Shiraz is a truly great discovery. One of the highlights of a wine merchants life is to find a new sensational wine, a wine that offers an added dimension over its peers. The 1998 Penny’s Hill Shiraz is one such wine. The vineyard is planted to a variety of grapes, including Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Grenache and Semillon. The vineyard owners Tony and Susie Parkinson are no amateurs - the entire enterprise is planted with meticulous detail. The vineyard is located slightly higher than the rest of McLaren Vale, giving it a cooler climate, which has contributed to the extreme peppery character of the wine on the back palate. Surprisingly the vine rows are oriented East-West (in most Australian vineyards, the preferred orientation is North - South), which also contributes to the peppery quality of the wine. Furthermore, the rows are very narrow by Australian standards, at 2.2 metres spacing, which require very careful canopy management.

The soils are lean, thus reducing vine vigor. However, at the end of the day, its the terroir, (the summation of the total environment) and the people who are charged with the responsibility of managing the vineyard that ensure the production of high quality grapes. The Parkinsons have surrounded themselves with top people. Viticulturist David Paxton and Wirra Wirra winemaker Ben Riggs guarantee outstanding results. The 1998 McLaren Vale reds are textbook perfect. The wine was matured for 20 months in French and American oak, 40% of which was new, the balance 1 and 2 year old oak.

A SENSATIONAL NEW DISCOVERY!THE 1998 PENNY’S HILL SHIRAZ MAY WELL BE THE HOTTEST FIND OF THE YEAR, WITH THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME ONE OF THE SUPERSTARS OF MCLAREN VALE.

TASTING NOTE: Magnificent opaque crimson colour, with black centre and mauve edges - the wine is a generous 14.5% Alc/Vol, and clings to the sides of the glass with a great viscosity. Superb nose - aromas of dark chocolate, vanilla, blackcurrant, earth and spice with a hint of violet. The palate does not disappoint and fills the mouth with an explosion of blackpepper flavours which are perfectly interwoven with blackberry, blackcurrant and plum fruit flavours. Exceptional concentration with outstanding depth and persistence. Perfect balance and exceptionally long blackpepper aftertaste. An outstanding Australian Shiraz. Stocks are very limited. Cellar 5-8 years.

AN ABSOLUTE MUST.

RATING: 94/100

VALUE: XXXXX/5