Penfolds II Second Release Dourthe 1840 Cabernet Merlot Bordeaux France

$499.00

1 in stock

Remaining/Maximum Characters: 100/100
Country

Australia, France

Region

Bordeaux, South Australia

Bottle Size

750ml

Drinking Window

2025 – 2050

A multi-vintage blend of cabernet and merlot made in partnership with Dourthe Bordeaux, blurring the notions of Old and New World. 2020 merlot from the soils of Bordeaux blended with 2021 cabernet sauvignon from distant vineyards in South Australia. Medium-bodied, savoury and complex.

“SENSITIVELY BLURRING THE NOTIONS OF OLD AND NEW WORLD INTO A THOUGHT-PROVOKING NEW CREATION.” – PETER GAGO, PENFOLDS CHIEF WINEMAKER

Tasting Notes

Medium-bodied. A dusty mint impression prompts thoughts of source. Similarly subtle black and red-curranted fruits. Tannins – more of a palate conveyance, less of an attaque – grainy, elongated. Excellent weight. Fine, with width/depth. Acid and tannin, not alcohol and oak, are the backbone of this wine. Savoury/mouthwatering/complex – arrestingly draws you in. Now captive. The measured palate profile is one of balance, not bigness; definition, not clutter. Worldly. Different.

Winemaking

Bordeaux winter was mild, followed by a wet spring. Soil moisture levels were favourable leading to early budburst and flowering. Summer was dry until mid-August when a storm dropped a significant amount of rain. On the one hand it was welcome, given the parched conditions, however growers were on high alert for mildew in the humid conditions that followed. Overall, it was a warm and mostly dry growing season, with the rain arriving in sporadic thunderstorms. The early ripening merlot fared very well. In South Australia, Coonawarra had a favourable start to the growing season. Spring was notably warm, November especially, up +3°C on the long-term average. The Barossa Valley growing season was also relatively mild with long dry spells. July was unusually dry, however good falls in August provided a solid foundation for the vines to thrive in spring. Spring temperatures were generally warmer than average in both regions with favourable climactic conditions for budburst and flowering. Summer temperatures were near long-term average. The autumnal conditions were cooler than average, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and evenly. Except for a few wet days in February, the predicted La Niña conditions failed to materialise. An outstanding vintage for South Australian cabernet sauvignon.

Food Pairing

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