The 2021 Penfolds Australia Collection is released today, celebrating the 70th anniversary of its flagship Grange (1951 experimental – 2021).

“The original aspiration for Grange was to create a red wine ‘capable of staying alive for a minimum of 20 years’,” said Penfolds Chief Winemaker, Peter Gago. “Tell that to sexagenarian vintages such as ’52, ’53, ’55 & ’62! Stunningly drinkable in 2021! In modern parlance – under-promise, over-deliver! Long may it continue … and modern Grange vintages such as ’08, ’10 and ’16 patiently await judgement in 2071!”

Beyond Grange, the wines within the Collection offer multi-region and multi-vineyard blends, single-region wines and a single-vineyard wine. The Bins exhibit a savoury theme that runs through the 2019 reds, emphasised in the 2019 Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz which is reflective of the Barossa Valley in this year.

Penfolds noted that the new vintage red and white wines will continue to develop and improve for many years after release. Just how long they should be kept depends on whether you enjoy your wine with some youthfulness or fully matured with that added complexity of bottle age.

Adding to this year’s Collection, Penfolds will launch two limited-edition wines made from parcels destined for Penfolds flagships: Superblend 802.A and 802.B Cabernet Shiraz. Essentially siblings raised in different environments, the wines represent two unique interpretations of the iconic Australian blend – cabernet sauvignon and shiraz.

“These two new wines are immediately Penfolds, yet different … propelling varied attributes that will challenge and engage,” said Gago. “Spoilt by choice – A-Grade cabernet sauvignon and A-Grade shiraz from a wonderful harvest; French and American oak barrels of the highest quality … and that much-coveted ingredient, time. And, winemaking blending freedom to re-configure the expected.”

Carefully selected from the coveted 2018 South Australian vintage, both Superblend wines include significant parcels of fruit from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra with smaller blending components also sourced from Wrattonbully, Robe and Clare Valley. This powerful pair will be released sequentially and are designed to be collected.

Superblend 802.A will be available from September 2021, RRP AUD$900 each (750ml). Superblend 802.B will be launched a year later in August 2022.

Gago told Drinks Business: “We wanted to support multi-generational families who haven’t made it into the Grange for 15 years – this gives them a new goal to strive for.”

The Australia Collection 2021 wines are available from Thursday, August 5. at Penfolds Cellar Doors (Magill Estate Winery and Barossa Valley Cellar Door) and select fine wine stores globally.

Sydney buyer pays $142K for bottle of Penfolds Grange