Notes from last Monday's Penfolds dinner at Red with visiting Penfolds Senior White Winemaker Kym Schroeter.
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chradonnay 2007 - Rich and creamy. Sweet fruit but dry finish with lots of pomelo/grapefruit nuances. Surprisingly long. Oak is evident but not overdone. Quite good.
Penfolds Bin 311 Chardonnay - Done in an unoaked Chablis style. Very steely/minerally. Some lemon rind. Seemed a little yeasty on the attack. Very clean but rather austere and dry. Not my type but I suppose a good example of the style.
Penfolds Yattarna 2007 - The White Grange. Sweet perfumed nose. Talcum powder. A very slight spritz. Peppery. Lean. Very, very subtle, creamy oak. Still with the lemon on the finish. Elegant, understated wine. Lovely balance. Excellent but very expensive. Fruit from Adelaide Hills, Henty in Victoria and Derwent Valley in Tasmania.
Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz 2006 - Very dark. A little herby,leafy. Basil. Chocolate. Very rich. Touch of mint. Very long with fine, dusty tannin. Quite dry on the finish with the wood very well integrated. Surprisingly approachable but will no doubt improve with age. Excellent potential.
Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - Rich and chocolatey. A little caramel. Very tight and tannic. Leave alone for at least 5 years. Should be great when it comes around.
I brought two of my own bottles as well to share with other Penfolds enthusiasts:
Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz 2001 - A little hot. Minty, plummy. Very fine tannins. Sweet fruit. Still a bit closed. Give it another year or two to open up. Not quite in balance due to the alcohol heat and the sweetness. Maybe time will integrate it more.
Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz 2001 - Earthy. Still closed and a bit difficult to taste. Best to leave alone for 3 years or so.