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WINERY RATING |
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| James Halliday, |
Australian Wine Companion 2010 |
PENLEY ESTATE
In 1988, Penley Estate was established by Kym Tolley in Australia’s famous Cabernet Sauvignon region, Coonawarra. Kym has wine in his veins; he is a direct descendant of two of Australia’s most famous winemaking families, the Penfolds and Tolleys. The winery, completed for the 1999 vintage, is a combination of modern and traditional elements, including traditional heading down boards, ensuring the wine has constant contact with the skins. Penley Estate’s estate-grown wines have won a total of 44 trophies, 132 Gold medals and over 600 Silver and Bronze medals, and it is their philosophy to produce wines that emphasise not only quality, but the skill, enthusiasm and artistry of the winemaking team. Penley Estate produces full-bodied wines that show rich concentration of varietal and regional characters, best described by Robert Parker Jr (The Wine Advocate) as "Reminiscent of French Pauillac and European in style.”
Objective: To create a clearly approachable and drinkable young red wine showing the unique characteristics of Coonawarra.
Phoenix History: The Phoenix name recognises the first winemaking company purchased by Douglas Austral Tolley , purchased in 1888. This company began in 1858, as "The Phoenix Winemaking and Distilling Company”, in Stepney, South Australia. In 1888 this was changed to "Tolley Scott Tolley” (T.S.T.) and remained with the family till 1960. D.A Tolley’s great grandson, Kym Tolley, has continued the unbroken family winemaking tradition, establishing Penley Estate in 1988.
Coonawarra Connection: The value and quality of Coonawarra was first recognised by D. A. Tolley who supplied oak barrels and equipment to the district as early as 1908, gaining access to the wines of Coonawarra. To quote from early Tolley records: "The Coonawarra wines were distinctly different from Hope Valley (Tolley home vineyard site near Adelaide). They were dark purple in colour and they had characteristic aroma whilst fermenting.” Nothing has changed!
The Wine: The colour is bright crimson with hints of dark purple due to its oak maturation and specific handling techniques. The fragrant aroma consists of violets, black currant leaf, ripe wild berry and integrated spice of the Cabernet grape. Complex and well integrated oak characters are evident on the bouquet. Mulberry and blackberry are dominant fruit flavours enhanced by a young tight palate with silky grape tannin and elegant complex cedar oak, so typical of the Penley Style. A very generous mid palate with a hint of liquorice and chocolate that lingers on the finish. A wine that is closer to full bodied with more grape and oak tannins but still maintains beautiful balance.
Maturation: The oak is minimal but discernible. The small amount of wood tannin and fruit flavours will aid maturation if required. Best enjoyed for next 1 to 5 years.
Penley Style: The balance is a key feature in all Penley wines. This will ensure the wines will mature successfully in the bottle. This wine shows dominance of spicy cabernet fruit, a dense ripeness with hints of smoky oak and grape tannin. A wine made to enjoy while the young, ripe but elegant, distinct Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon characters are evident. Barrel fermentation in French oak provided a balanced integration of oak and fruit.
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