PENFOLDS ICONS ARE HOME ON THE GRANGE

2007 GRANGE heads-up this year’s Penfolds Luxury and Icon Collection.

Wc21May12

David Ellis

MAY is the month when investors and connoisseurs alike look to Penfolds annual release of their Luxury and Icon Collection, a $1750 parcel this year of stalwarts led by the latest Grange to go into the market place, similarly a Yattarna Chardonnay and the finest Cabernet Sauvignons and Shiraz.

And this year an inaugural release of a new contemporary Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, the Bin 169 from the 2008 vintage ($250 from Cellar Door only.)

The Grange is the 2007 that’s priced at $625, the Yattarna Chardonnay the 2009 from the best cool-climate regions ($130 Cellar Door and select on-premises only,) while there is also a 2010 Reserve Bin A Adelaide Hills Chardonnay that’s got a $95 price tag.

Also at $95 is the 2008 St Henri Shiraz, and at $250 a 2009 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz ($175,) and a 2009 Magill Estate Shiraz that’s available Cellar Door and select on-premises only at $130.)

Penfolds Chief Winemaker, Peter Gago describes these wines as “classic Penfolds with a solid track record for cellaring performance… the collection spans four vintages and includes the best of the new, together with the inaugural 2008 Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon – a wine style that is reflective of our winemaking team’s search for diversity and excellence.”

HERE’S a perfect match with antipasto to get that lunch humming.

ONE FOR LUNCH: WE attended a Mother’s Day fund-raiser lunch for breast cancer research, and on arrival all the ladies were presented with a nicely chilled glass of Domaine Chandon Pinot Noir Rosé, a pink bubbly that proved not only moreish but very appropriate in colour for the occasion.

This cool climate drop from the Yarra Valley was full of red berry, cherry and spicy aromas and flavours, and ideal at $24.95 to get the lunch humming – and you’ll find, a great match with antipasto.

 (NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out  http://www.vintnews.com )