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Tasting notes
Generous, with charred sandalwood aromatics, just a little dominant over the black cherry and damson fruit at this point. Earth and clove spice follow up, taking away from the pure Cabernet signature that is typical of this bottling, making it an outlier in the vertical. Perhaps bottle variation, as this is a well regarded vintage. 100% new American oak.
Critic scores
Average Score
The Wine Advocate
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Garnet rim but still very deep. Wonderful maturity on the nose, with a green streak that is classic Cabernet. Fine but firm tannins, with chocolate and spice. Showing its full potential with a hint of bloodiness on the finish. (RH)
The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon “Bin 707” is one of the Penfolds’ flagship wines. It was aged for 15 months in 100% new American oak. Opaque purple/black, it exhibits a classic Cabernet nose of cedar, tobacco, spice box, black currant, and blackberry liqueur. Medium-bodied (13.5% alcohol) but dense and concentrated, with tons of black fruit flavor, the wine is tightly knit, structured, beautifully balanced, and very promising. It needs a minimum of 10-12 years of cellaring and should provide pleasure through 2040. Penfolds, arguably Australia’s most famous winery, continues to perform at a high level under the leadership of Head Winemaker, Peter Gago. Importer: Southcorp Wines USA; www.penfolds.com.au Also tasted: 2006 Chardonnay “Thomas Hyland” (84), 2004 Shiraz “Bin 128” Coonawarra (84)
100% new oak. Sold out almost overnight in Oz. Some of the vines were planted in 1886 (known as block 42). Fruit sources: 45% Barossa, 32% McLaren Vale, 23% Coonawarra. 13.45% (and thus closer to alcohol levels Peter is ideally aiming for. 15 months in 100% new US hogsheads. Very intense blackcurrant and cassis leaf edge. Very intense pure cassis, sweet ripe tannins but still has a touch of the freshness of cassis leaf. Very very thick pile with just a touch of grip on the very end. After time in the glass: spicy, lavender chocolate (I had some lavender-flavoured chocolate recently!), wonderfully fresh even though it is so ripe and pure, melted chocolate tannins.
About the producer
Penfolds is Australia’s most famous wine producer, known best for their iconic top wine, Grange. First produced commercially in 1952, Grange has since gone on to become one of the world’s most famous fine wines. In 2001, the wine was listed as an Australian heritage icon.