2006 Penfolds Shiraz Cabernet Koonunga Hill
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Tasting notes
The Cabernet and Shiraz blends begin with the 2006 Shiraz (70%) – Cabernet Sauvignon (22%) “Koonunga Hill”. Purple-colored, the wine offers meaty black currant, blackberry, and blueberry aromas. On the palate the wine exhibits remarkable focus and structure for its humble price. The fruit is grapy and primary as well as intensely flavored. It should evolve for several years and drink well through 2022 if not longer. It is a fantastic value. As an aside, Peter Gago presented a 1976 Koonunga Hill to demonstrate the aging potential of this cuvee. The wine was showing a bit of age aromatically but none on the palate. At age 31, this wine (which probably cost several dollars on release) is right at its peak (my score 94 points). 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)
Critic scores
The Wine Advocate
Jay S Miller, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The Cabernet and Shiraz blends begin with the 2006 Shiraz (70%) – Cabernet Sauvignon (22%) “Koonunga Hill”. Purple-colored, the wine offers meaty black currant, blackberry, and blueberry aromas. On the palate the wine exhibits remarkable focus and structure for its humble price. The fruit is grapy and primary as well as intensely flavored. It should evolve for several years and drink well through 2022 if not longer. It is a fantastic value. As an aside, Peter Gago presented a 1976 Koonunga Hill to demonstrate the aging potential of this cuvee. The wine was showing a bit of age aromatically but none on the palate. At age 31, this wine (which probably cost several dollars on release) is right at its peak (my score 94 points). Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate, Oct 2007
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.