When Penfolds introduced its Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet with the 1976 vintage, Donna and I were living in Australia. And it was the wine we frequently chose at our local wine merchant or wine bar. We weren't very oriented toward wine at that time, and Koonunga Hill was cheap (about $2 a bottle) and good. Penfolds has gone through many changes over the past five decades, but the goal of the winery is to maintain consistency in the style of each label even though the fruit may come from a different location. The Koonunga Hill vineyard is in Barossa and, due to the ageworthiness demonstrated in that 1976 Koonunga vintage, has probably been upgraded by Penfolds and used in more expensive cuvees. The fruit from this 2019 Koonunga Hill comes from South Australia and was seen as appropriate for what Penfolds considers its "gateway wine." It may not come from Koonunga Hill, but it is cheap (about $12 a bottle) and good..
Bright ruby, deep and dark. I don'r detect any purple at this time. Demonstrative nose of black fruits--blackberries and currants. Plump body (14.5%) with a rich mid-palate. I always get a heavy dose of dark chocolate in Shiraz Cabernet wines, and this wine has it in spades, along with a touch of mint. Substantial tannic grip; that is the style, but ripe fruit and chocolate peek through and carry over into the finish, which is beginning to show some secondary traits. I plan to drink this wine early, but it should age well over the next few years.
I paid $12 for this 2019, but my local Costco has the 2020 vintage for $7.89--an excellent value. I bought a bottle today and will be going back for more. Who doesn't like wines that are cheap and good?
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