Penfolds Koonunga Hill

[Drew]

1998 Penfolds Koonunga Hill, Shiraz 52%-Cabernet 48%. What a nice wine! The color is black ruby...almost translucent. The nose is dark fruit and oak. Ripe plum,blackberry, cassis, hint of tar and pepper. Paid $11 local.....worth it just to look at the color. Drinks like a $20-30 wine. WS rated it an 85 but I think it's 87-89.
Drew

[This message has been edited by Drew (edited 07-02-2000).]

[cellarmate]

Agreed! I recently had a 7 Shiraz shootout ith some Aussie friends. All the bottles were brown bagged. The ringer was the Penfolds cab shiraz, in that it was not all shiraz. It came off as one of the top choices. Rosemont 97 was up there and a surprisingly confusing wine was the McGuigan Millinium Shiraz. Amazing first taste but little quiet after that. Great sipper when you want a glass for everyone before going on to somthing, but less useful with the dinner of roast beef that followed our tasting. Let me know your impression.

[Drew]

Cellarmate, I have several magnums of 97' Rosemount, which I like very much, 96' is better and 95' better that that. I did not like the McGuigan at all. WS rated it high but I can't see it. I liked the Penfolds because it has that perfectly balanced oak of a Penfolds wine...also the richness of the cab at a great price. What were the other wines you sampled?

Drew

[Drew]

I still have a good supply of Koonunga Hill '98 and it's got lotsa life ahead. Popped one tonight. Almost opaque purple/ruby. Spicy black fruit, vanilla, a little tar, dark chocolate with kickn' tannins and a long finish. Still reining QPR Aussie King. 14% Alc/vol.

Drew

[PortAh]

What do you folks think about the 1999 vintage of the Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz?

Thanks.

[Drew]

PortAh, I tried several bottles of the '99 and was disappointed. Different flavor profile, thinner with a bitter componet that was off putting....just 1 guys opinion, FWIW.

Drew