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Tasting notes
Crushed rose petals and peony on the nose, love the floral character here, maybe get a faint blush of heat which I haven't had on any of the other wines so far but again this low hum of energy and momentum through the palate, with pomegranate and mandarin peel alongside the more classic cassis and blackberry fruits, liqourice root. So much crackle to it, good intensity through the palate, the tannins feel resolved and elongated, and they are building up through the palate without being drying. Great quality. Feels at that beautiful tipping point between young and old, back to the choco mint blast. 40% Coonawarra fruit, 100% new American oak.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Aged in US oak hogsheads. Cork closure. Still very deep crimson. And then an unusual green vegy streak on the nose. Interesting tertiary aromas but the fruit seems to be in retreat. Getting very dry on the end. (JR)
Still very densely coloured with only the slightest brown hint on the very edge of the rim. Drenched in sweet coconut style oak on the nose. The fruit only comes through on the palate, and then only discreetly. In fact there is more leather and milk chocolate than fruit and it finishes with a wood varnish sort of persistence. I wouldn’t want to age this much further – it's venerable now, but the oak is becoming dominant. (RH)
The outstanding 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 707 is a thick, rich, full-bodied Cabernet emphasizing copious quantities of cassis fruit. Pure, with nicely integrated oak, acidity, and tannin, it cuts a broad swath across the palate. While still young and grapy, this 1998 is loaded with potential. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2015. Importer: Southcorp Wines North America, Monterey, CA; tel. (408) 655-4848
About the producer
Penfolds is Australia’s most famous wine producer, known best for their iconic top wine, Grange. First produced commercially in 1952, Grange has since gone on to become one of the world’s most famous fine wines. In 2001, the wine was listed as an Australian heritage icon.