1996 Penfolds Block 42 Kalimna Cabernet Sauvignon

Producer Notes

Penfolds has a much better reputation for quality than its former parent company, Fosters. The company is still part of a AUD 5bn turnover drinks group but focus on quality has not deteriorated, in fact it has improved further in the last few years. From a quality perspective, Penfolds is the very best large producer in Australia and Grange is still a consistently world-class wine (and rather good value compared to some of its French counterparts). Despite its huge production, Penfolds has developed over the years into a wine company that has been able to satisfy wine-drinkers at entry level prices as well as offer top single vineyard expressions to many international wine collectors at astronomical prices. The main black grape variety grown is Shiraz which is produced as a stand alone wine or blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, giving the red wines more power and weight In recent years, Penfolds has expanded on an enourmous scale, with vineyards planted across the Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra. Penfolds are best known for their red wines, particularly their top, iconic wine “Grange”, however, they also produce a variety of white wines from Riesling, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.