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B-21 Top Recommendation
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A top rated Australian Cab delivering unbeatable bang for the buck, the dark and vibrant 93 pt. 2020 Penley Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon offers fresh, juicy fruit with subtle layers of spice and herbs and smooth, textured tannins, a superb value crafted by Australia's Winemaker of the Year that's bargain priced for stocking up by the case.
Established in 1988 by descendants of Australian winemaking pioneers, Penley was named by three siblings to honor their parents' family names of Penfold and Tolley, building its quality reputation under the direction of one-time Penfolds winemaker Kym Tolley before his retirement and now run by his sisters Bec and Ang Tolley. Earning the top five star rating from Australian critic James Halliday, the Penley estate spans over 165 hectares in Coonawarra, a narrow, flat twelve kilometer long strip located a little over an hour's drive from the coast in Southern Australia and considered one of Down Under's best regions for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. Enjoying cooling breezes off the Southern Ocean that moderate extreme summer temperatures, the estate's 80 hectares of sustainably farmed vineyards are planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon averaging over 30 years of age in the region's unique rust-red soil known as terra rossa, a thin band of iron-rich topsoil layered over soft, free-draining limestone that encourages deeper roots and retains moisture. Recently named Winemaker of the Year by the Halliday Wine Companion and boasting over 25 years of experience, winemaker Kate Goodman aged the 2020 Penley Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon in 5% new French oak for 18 months followed by another 6 months in stainless steel tanks, expressing Coonawarra's "trademark power, fruit intensity and distinctive dried herb and mint characters" according to the Wine Enthusiast's Christina Pickard while preserving freshness and balancing acidity.
Crafted to enjoy now and punching way above its weight, the appealing 93 pt. 2020 Penley Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon is an easy case buy for anyone seeking a great value Cab or everyday red, evocative of its unique Aussie terroir at an outstanding price to reach for often and pour freely over the next few years. |
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An elegant version, with firm earthy notes to the star anise, green cardamom and cigar box spiciness, backed by a touch of Dutch cocoa powder. Reveals spiced plum, cassis and kirsch flavors that are plump and velvety, with a long finish. Drink now through 2030. 7,000 cases imported.
93 points, MaryAnn Worobiec, Wine Spectator (Oct 2022)
This is a bright, youthful cabernet with aromas of plums, redcurrants, tobacco and earth. Picked early for freshness. Medium-bodied with little oak impact, a red-plum core and a juicy, drinkable feel. Drink now. Screw cap.
92 points, James Suckling (Nov 2021)
Super-fresh, verging on the stalky and grassy end of the spectrum, but it's good. Satisfying. The fruit is everything from pepperberries, blackberries, mulberries, some cassis, licorice, aniseed, fennel flower, flat-leaf parsley and bay leaf. In the mouth the wine is decidedly red fruited, straying into the raspberry and pomegranate space. Delicious drinking for the price, and immaculate packaging to boot. Compelling.
92 points, Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion (Apr 2022)
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