Penfolds has releases its inaugural California Collection of four wines: 2018 Quantum Bin 98 Cabernet Sauvignon; 2018 Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon; 2018 Bin 704 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2018 Bin 600 Cabernet Shiraz.

The two flagship wines that lead the collection, 2018 Quantum Bin 98 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2018 Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon, have been referred to by Penfolds as ‘Wine of the World’, the winemaker’s term used to describe the wine’s taste profile, because of the way it has been blended.

Made from predominantly Napa Valley cabernet parcels, each wine contains a significant addition of shiraz (Quantum) and cabernet (Bin 149) from South Australia.

Penfolds Chief Winemaker Peter Gago said: “A quality-first approach underpins this inaugural release, led by 2018 Quantum. This blend assembles parcels of prized cabernet sauvignon from some of the Napa Valley’s best vineyards and pedigreed shiraz from South Australia. This is a first for Penfolds.”

Penfolds’ California journey started decades ago in the Camatta Hills vineyard, Paso Robles. In the 1980’s, Penfolds initiated a viticultural program in Australia called ‘Heritage Selections’. From its most prized vineyards, winemakers sought to identify single vineyards, blocks and vines that produced the best quality fruit. Cuttings from these exceptional Heritage Selections were then propagated and eventually sent across the world to California.

During 1998 – 1999, a selection of Magill Estate and Kalimna Heritage Selection vines were planted in Californian soil, at Block 30 of the newly purchased Camatta Hills Estate, Paso Robles. Formerly known as Creston 600 Ranch.The 11.5-acre Block 30 (the original and most prized block on the Estate) was fully propagated and planted by 2001. While planting the vineyards, viticulturists discovered another bonus: prized limestone or, in geological terms, “Camatta” soils – hence, the name “Camatta Hills”.

While experimental Camatta Hills vintages occurred in 2006 and 2007, the bottles were never commercially released by Penfolds. More recently in 2018, Gago, Senior Winemaker Stephanie Dutton and Winemaker Andrew Baldwin reestablished Penfolds footprint within the northern hemisphere and embarked on the 2018 California harvest.

Over the past three years, Penfolds has sourced grapes from some of the best Californian vineyards to complement Penfolds House Style and deliver exceptional and distinctive quality wine. Winemakers spent time meticulously selecting fruit from Californian vineyards including Napa Valley AVAs: Oakville, Diamond Mountain District, Howell Mountain and Rutherford. Grapes were also sourced from Camatta Hills, Paso Robles, from the original vine cuttings planted in 1998 and 1999.

“The wines made in California pay respect to California terroir, yet one thing remains overtly consistent … the red Penfolds stamp has been applied,” Gago said.

“Being global isn’t just about selling wine around the world, it is about working with both feet on the soil. We will have the Californian sun above and soil beneath, but everything in between will be Penfolds.”

Penfolds California Collection is available from Thursday, March 4, 2021 at http://www.penfolds.com, Penfolds Cellar Doors (Magill Estate Winery and Barossa Valley Cellar Door) and select fine wine stores globally.

The Penfolds California Collection 2021 RRP AUD:
• 2018 Quantum Bin 98 Cabernet Sauvignon $950
• 2018 Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon $220
• 2018 Bin 704 Cabernet Sauvignon $120
• 2018 Bin 600 Cabernet Shiraz $90

The announcement of the California Collection release follows Treasury Wine Estates revealing a restructure that sees Penfolds stand alone as its own business division. Read more.