Escudo Rojo Gran Reserva is a blended wine made from four different grape varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon (40%) and Cabernet Franc (2%), traditonal Bordeaux varieties, give refinement and tannic power, while Carmenere (38%) and Syrah (20%) bring body, density and a touch of spice

From budbreak through ripening to harvest, meticulous care was lavished on the 2007 vintage in order to bring the grapes to maturity in good condition.

After a relatively wet winter which allowed water reserves to accumulate, budbreak began in early April. Early vegetation growth was encouraged by exceptionally dry and warm weather (16.4 mm of rain and 16° C, compared with an average of 11.7° C).

Flowering took place for all three varieties around 26 May, fifteen days earlier than the average, presaging an early harvest, as in 1989 and 2003.

Relatively cool weather during the summer slowed the development of the crop, but an exceptionally hot and dry September enabled the grapes to reach full phenological maturity.

Harvesting began on 26 September with the Merlot and ended on 11 October with the Cabernet Sauvignon.

The grapes were in good condition, with thick skins rich in tannins and anthocyans.

Varietal mix

• Cabernet Sauvignon 48%
  Merlot 42%
  Cabernet Franc 7%
  Petit Verdot 2%
  Carménère 1%

Tasting notes

The wine has a very deep purple colour with a slightly violet tint and a concentrated, packed nose which opens on aromas of garrigue, blackcurrant and cedarwood, accompanied by fine vanilla and toasted notes.

The palate is full-bodied, on slightly milky red fruit flavours underpinned by supple, close-knit tannins. An attractive freshness accompanies a long and well-balanced finish, enhanced by notes of elegant oak and mocha.

A great success in a demanding vintage, ready for drinking now.

Bin 2 was first released in 1960, yet was temporarily discontinued in Australia in the 1970s at the height of the white wine boom. The original Bin 2 was an ‘Australian Burgundy’ style (despite its Rhône varieties) – typically a soft, mediumbodied wine based on shiraz. The Bin 2 blend of shiraz and mataro is still relatively uncommon in Australian table wines. Also known as monastrell or mourvèdre, mataro was introduced to Australia in the 1830s. Often used in fortified wine production, this grape is widely planted in the Barossa Valley.

It is valued by winemakers for its blending attributes, adding complexity and palate grip. Interest in Bin 2 has grown as the popularity of traditional Rhône varieties and blends continues to flourish.

Bin 389 was often referred to as ‘Baby Grange’, in part because components of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. First made in 1960 by the legendary Max Schubert, this was the wine that helped forge Penfolds reputation with red wine drinkers by combining the structure of cabernet sauvignon with the richness of shiraz. Exemplifying the judicious balance of fruit and oak, Bin 389 highlights the generous mid-palate Penfolds in known for.

Bin 8 has been crafted in the traditional Penfolds style. Ripe, balanced fruit flavours are supported by softly integrated oak resulting in an impressive, smooth red wine.  It was introduced in response to a heightened interest in shiraz and cabernet blends – a classic Australian wine style that caught the attention of the international wine media.

An early drinking style, which will keep for a few years, but is best soon after release.

Bin 707 is a perfect cabernet sauvignon representation of Penfolds ‘House Style’: intensely-flavoured fruit; completion of fermentation and maturation in new oak; expressing a Penfolds understanding of multi-vineyard, multi-region fruit sourcing.

Bin 707 was first vintaged in 1964. The wine was not made from 1970 to 1975 (when fruit was directed to other wines) nor in 1981, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2011 or 2017 (when fruit of the required style and quality was not available). Full-bodied and with proven cellaring potential, Bin 707 retains a secure place among the ranks of Australia’s finest cabernets.

Beringer Vineyards has owned and farmed its Knights Valley vineyards since the mid-1960s, when the Beringer family recognized that the cobbled, rocky alluvial soils were a great place to grow high quality wine grapes. The Knights Valley designation was first used on a Beringer label in 1974. Beringer was instrumental in garnering official recognition for the area in 1983 as a premier wine growing region with the award of its own American Viticulture Area (AVA) designation.

TASTING NOTE

This Cabernet is set each vintage as a Bordeaux blend, with soft and silky tannins and a plush, full mouth-feel setting it up for immediate enjoyment, although it's built to age and develop further complexity. Aromas of dried herbs, cedar, clove and lavender join flavors of dark red fruit led by figs, black cherry, currants, boysenberry, huckleberry, raspberry, and evident oak spice are joined with more traditional Knights Valley tones of black olive, wild sage and mocha chocolate. Fine acidity and balance with an elegant structure lead to a lingering, memorable finish.

St Henri is a time-honoured and alternative expression of shiraz, and an intriguing counterpoint to Grange. It is unusual amongst high quality Australian red wines as it does not rely on any new oak. Released for the first time by Penfolds in the early 1950s (first commercial vintage 1957), it gained a new lease of life in the 1990s as its quality and distinctive style became better understood. Proudly, a wine style that hasn’t succumbed to the dictates of fashion or commerce.

St Henri is rich and plush when young, gaining soft, earthy, mocha-like characters with age. It is matured in an assortment of old large vats that allow the wine to develop, imparting minimal, if any oak character. Although a small proportion of cabernet may sneak into the blend, the focal point for St Henri remains shiraz.

With each vintage of the acclaimed Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, the Beringer Winemaker chooses the best lots from our reserve vineyards in the Napa Valley, each of which demonstrate remarkable expression of terroir. Beringer’s extraordinary collection of vineyards is the result of a significant and decades-long relationship between viticulture and winemaking.

TASTING NOTE

Richly garnet and purple colored, the wine opens with aromas of oak spice and dark black fruits framed with chocolate mocha. Flavors follow the aromas, with dominant mountain blackberries, plum and cassis accented by black truffles. The fruit is opulent with soft, silky tannins and great structure. A wine built for the ages, with much yet to be revealed. 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petite Verdot

The most powerful expression of Penfolds multi-vineyard, multi-district blending philosophy, Grange is arguably Australia’s most celebrated wine and is officially listed as a Heritage Icon of South Australia.

Crafted utilising fully-ripe, intensely-flavoured and structured shiraz grapes, the result is a unique Australian style that is now recognised as one of the most consistent of the world’s great wines. With an unbroken line of vintages from the experimental 1951, Grange clearly demonstrates the synergy between shiraz and the soils and climates of South Australia.