The Esteemed Creator Barossa Shiraz Coonawarra Cabernet 2016
Penfolds
The Esteemed Creator Barossa Shiraz Coonawarra Cabernet 2016
Penfolds
The Esteemed Creator Barossa Shiraz Coonawarra Cabernet 2016
Overview
Overview
For 175 years, Penfolds has been grounded in experimentation, curiosity and uncompromising quality. This foundation has driven us since the very beginning and with each generation of custodians it is celebrated. The Esteemed Creator, a tribute to Chief Winemaker Max Schubert (1948 – 1975): Max Schubert is one of our most esteemed creators and our first Chief Winemaker. Max crafted a dynasty of wines and became the driving force behind some of Penfolds greatest achievements, still celebrated to this day. This wine is a quintessential Australian blend and a celebration of the pioneering winemaking style Max created.
| Varietal | Shiraz Cabernet |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2016 |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Multi Region |
| Volume | 750 mL |
| Closure | Cork |
| Alc/Vol | 14.5% |
| Peak Drinking | Now - 2050 |
| Winemaker | The Penfolds Team |
Food Pairing
Food Pairing
Beef
Lamb
Duck
Veg
Pizza
Taste Description
Taste Description
Nose
Aromas of roasted beef, fried sage leaves and rosemary.
Higher notes of dark chocolate, dry roasted almonds, orange liqueur crème anglaise rise, pulling you further in.
Flavours and Palate
At first the evenly balanced silty tannins drawing to graphite and cacao powder, creating a mouth coating texture across the palate.
Then the balanced fruit flavours of blackberry and black fig coalesce with the savoury notes of cola nut and mustard leaf.
Finally lifted chocolate panatone, candied peel and chocolate petite fours round out the harmony of this regional and varietal alignment.
Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking
Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking
South Australia
Home to the oldest vines in the country, and no less than 18 wine growing regions, South Australia accounts for almost 50% of Australia’s wine production. The Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek and Coonawarra are well known for their world class reds, with Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley and Eden Valley praised for their exceptional Chardonnay and Riesling.
Vintage Conditions
Autumn and winter were dry and cool across South Australia. Record low rainfall prevailed through September to March, putting pressure on valuable water resource. The prevailing weather meant the start of the growing season was slightly delayed in the Barossa Valley and other warmer regions. However, budburst, flowering, veraison and harvest were all earlier than is usually expected of Coonawarra. Warm conditions prevailed in the early part of the summer allowing vines to develop healthy canopies and good bunch set. Some late rain in January and early February was a welcome relief, freshening up the vines before the harvest. Temperatures in spring and early summer were above the long-term average, resulting in an early harvest for shiraz. Cooler conditions followed from mid-February which suited the later ripening cabernet sauvignon. Grapes across both the Barossa Valley and Coonawarra regions were able to ripen evenly and develop desirable flavours. An outstanding vintage.
The Penfolds Team
Key to the success of Penfolds has been a lineage of visionary winemakers. There have only ever been four Chief Winemakers at the helm of Penfolds – Max Schubert, Don Ditter, John Duval and Peter Gago, each a custodian of a rich winemaking tradition that goes back for more than 170 years.
Our current Penfolds winemaking team has more than 100 years between them as Penfolds winemakers. They are constantly refining and improving their work, whilst honouring the winemaking techniques of their predecessors.