2018 Penfolds 802.A Superblend

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RATINGS

97The Wine Advocate

It's 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Shiraz, blended just after fermentation and then aged 19 months in 54% new French oak. The oak here is more integrated and subtler, while the density of the fruit is similar, with overtones of mocha and dark chocolate added to the mix of cassis and blackberry flavors. It's medium to full-bodied, silky and fine, with a long, lingering finish.

93Wine Spectator

Dense and taut, with a mouthful of cedary tannins, showing off cigar box, dried herb and powdery espresso notes. The fruit flavors are smooth and reminiscent of kirsch, framboise and huckleberry jam, with a hint of black walnut liqueur coming in on the finish, where the tannins clamp down further, yet luckily the flavors are equally intense.

REGION

Australia, South Australia

South Australia is the nation’s most important wine region. South Australia is to Australia what California is to the U.S. About half of Australia’s wine comes from South Australia and many of the country’s most acclaimed producers are there. Wineries based in South Australia include Penfolds Grange, Torbreck, Amon Ra, Henschke and Jacob’s Creek. The prestigious Barossa Valley is located in South Australia, and is often compared to Napa Valley because it is gorgeous topography covered in grape vines. First farmed by 19th century German-speakers who immigrated from what is now Poland, the Barossa Valley is the crown jewel of the region. South Australia has widely varying climates, from very hot, dry areas to cooler, high altitude areas. There are more than 150,000 acres of vineyards in South Australia, with more being planted each month. Shiraz is king, though the region also produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Mourvedre, Chardonnay and Semillon.