Wonder of wine: Penfolds unveils 2017 collection and a A$3,000 expression blending three Grange vintages

Australian winemaker Penfolds has released its 2017 vintage collection as well as a special wine blended from three vintages of its flagship wine, Grange, spanning seven years.

Each wine in the 2017 release of The Penfolds Collection demonstrates the company’s ‘house style’ that has been in place since 1844.

The Penfolds Collection 2017 “reflects a continuum of vineyard and winery effort across vintage, region and climate”

The collection encompasses five vintages (2013 to 2017) and includes the 2013 vintage release of Grange – the 63rd consecutive vintage to be released from the label.

Other highlights of this year’s release include Kym Schroeter’s distinctive white wines, from the multi-regional 2015 Yattarna to the single-region 2016 Bin 311 Tumbarumba Chardonnay.

The 2016 Reserve Bin A Adelaide Hills Chardonnay follows on from the 2015 vintage, named Australia’s Best Chardonnay in the 2016 James Halliday Chardonnay Challenge.

Penfolds Chief Winemaker Peter Gago hosted a global launch of the wine collection in a master class tasting and gala celebration in Hong Kong

Among the red wines, the 2015 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz is said to offer a particularly well-balanced blend. Penfolds Chief Winemaker Peter Gago commented: “A great example of a vintage release that isn’t Cabernet, that isn’t Shiraz…that probably can’t be second-guessed as a Cabernet/Shiraz blend. Mission accomplished – Bin 389.”

The Penfolds Collection 2017 is available now in global travel retail.

Gago said of the collection: “To all in our team, this collection reflects a continuum of vineyard and winery effort across vintage, region and climate. The Penfolds stamp illuminates from above but not without anticipated surprise.

“Each wine of each style offers its vintage spin. This release is one to remember and remember we shall as many of these wines will be around for a long time.”

To honour the origins and provenance of Penfolds, a selection of the wines in the collection are conserved in a new signature bottle which bears historical Penfolds markings.

The art of blending

Only 1,200 bottles of Penfolds g3, a blend of three Grange vintages (2008, 2012 and 2014) to create a new expression, are available.

“Penfolds g3 is a natural end result of the venerated art of blending,” said Gago. “It is a blend where each individual vintage selected delivers a depth of character and flavour honouring our flagship Grange.”

Penfolds g3 features three vintages that deliver “a depth of character and flavour”

He explained that each Grange vintage component selected to make the wine brings something different to the final blend. “Grange 2008 is a big bold wine, Grange 2012 is about elegance and sophistication, while 2014 is a young wine that serves to ‘freshen up the blend’. The 2014 vintage is yet to be released, making it even more of an evocative beyond-reach inclusion,” he said.

Penfolds said the release demonstrated the company’s ongoing attempt to move into the future while respecting the ethos of the past and tradition.

The inaugural celebration of Penfolds g3 took place at the Liang Yi Museum Hong Kong on 18 October.

Each 750ml bottle is priced at AU$3,000 (US$2,356) and is available in selected global travel retail stores.

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