Wine Advisor
Penfolds, Magill Estate Shiraz 2001
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 2001 Shiraz Magill Estate, which is meant to be one of Penfolds’ flagship offerings, offers a shy but enticing aromatic display of flowers, black fruits, forest floor, and wood. Elegant, medium-bodied, not terribly concentrated flavors once again display a certain acidic edge that is unnatural. Nevertheless, the quality and purity of the fruit, the pleasant aromatics, and the intrinsic qualities that have not been totally obliterated by acid obsessed oenologists pull the wine through, but one wonders what it could have been? Drink it over the next 5-7 years. Penfolds needs to take a long, critical look at its winemaking philosophy. This is the great name in Australian winedom, and they should be a leader and reference point for fine winemaking. Obviously, they have access to some tremendous vineyard sites, and from a budgetary standpoint, they appear capable of doing anything they want. What is the purpose of sculpting wines that are essentially the products of a few oenologists connecting the dots and making wines by the numbers? The lack of naturalness and soul in these wines is worrisome. Importer: PWG Vintners, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 996-4504
About the Producer
Since 1844, Penfolds has played a pivotal role in the evolution of wine making with a history and heritage that profoundly reflects Australia’s journey from colonial settlement to the modern era. Penfolds collection of benchmark wines were established in a spirit of innovation and the constant and endless pursuit of quality, evidenced from the secret bottling of Grange in 1951 and the unbroken line of vintages of what is now arguably Australia’s most iconic red wine. Today, the collection continues to display the distinctive and consistently recognisable Penfolds ‘House Style’; the ultimate expression of Penfolds time-honoured tradition of sourcing the best fruit from the best regions. Historic blends, significant milestones and heritage vineyards have been honoured by a lineage of custodians whose courage and imagination, precision and humility have ensured Penfolds remains true to its original values while remaining relevant for current and future generations. The stories and philosophies behind each label bring a timeless quality, making Penfolds wines special and compelling for collectors and drinkers the world over.
