The 2008 Bin 128 Shiraz was aged 12 months in French hogsheads, 26% new. Very deep garnet-purple in color, it has pronounced spiced meat notes over warm blackberry, blueberry pie filling, mincemeat, black and green peppercorns and a little tar. Full and very tight in the mouth, it gives firm chewy tannins, crisp acid and a long finish. Consider giving this one another year in bottle and drink it 2012 to 2018+. With a lot of changes happening around the Foster’s Group, it is business as usual at Penfolds…which seems to operate within its own world. But this is no small world. The vineyard holdings here are vast and the connections with growers go back generations. Chief winemaker Peter Gago is the very well spoken front-man for the production team backed-up Kym Schroeter in charge of the whites and Steve Lienert crafting some very fine, consistent and sometimes inspired reds. If Champagne is all about the art of blending, then Penfolds is the Champagne of Australian wine. Those that think large companies producing wines that emphasize blending can’t make great wines need to think about the Champagne model or simply try some of Penfolds top wines to become believers. That said – check out their recent single vineyard release: the very special 2004 Block 42 Kalimna Cabernet Sauvignon, the first release of a wine made purely from this 100+ year old single block (perhaps the oldest block of Cabernet in the world?) since 1996. Importer: Foster’s Wine Estates Americas, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-4500