Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet 2022

Penfolds traces its roots to the Magill Estate near Adelaide, planted with French vine cuttings in the 1840s, and the firm has grown into one of the defining names of South Australian red wine. Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet draws fruit from across South Australia, where a warm, dry climate ripens Shiraz to its full, peppery style and gives Cabernet Sauvignon firm structure and blackcurrant fruit. Shiraz supplies the plush mid palate and dark plum, while Cabernet adds tannic spine, cassis and length, a classic Australian pairing that balances generosity with grip. Vineyards farmed under sustainable practices and warm-site ripening push the fruit to richness, and ageing in oak softens the tannins through slow oxygen exchange while contributing vanilla and a cocoa edge. The wine is deep crimson, with a nose of ripe plum, blackcurrant, black pepper and sweet oak spice. The palate is full bodied and warming at 14.5 percent, with dark fruit, fine grained tannin and a savoury, lightly toasted finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanting briefly to open the fruit. It is built for grilled and roast red meats.