A blend of 51% cabernet sauvignon and 49% shiraz from McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley; it spent 12 months in 30% new and 70% in one-year-old American hogsheads. When all is done, I can’t imagine a better South Australian red wine from this vintage. It ripples with cassis, mocha, dark chocolate and hints of tar and black olive; its texture and structure are exceptional, reflecting Penfolds’ unrivalled experience in tannin management.

A 51%/49% blend this time around sourced from McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley vineyards, this wears the signature American oak (30% new) overlay with a quite assertive Cabernet signature of leaves and herbs, some cassis and smoky notes, a wealth of red and dark berries packed in here too. The palate is laid out on fine tannin and smoothly resolved, nicely sculpted and balanced with some finesse here, succulent build, nice grain through the finish.

Very dark. Rich fruit, the oak in the background. Cassis and blackberry. Some declassified Grange and 701 in this year. Some red barrel ferment. Very Cabernet on the palate, fresh refined cassis. There's a really fine tight structure of acid and tannin but filled out with the beautifully juicy fresh fruit. Long. Gago suggests this 2011 should be broached before the 2008 and 2010 vintages. 17.5/20 (JH)