2005 Penfolds Cellar Reserve Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon South Australia

(93 points) The most distinctive of blends, considering the sources, is the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (65%) – Shiraz (35%) “Cellar Reserve.” The Cabernet component is sourced from Coonawarra and the Shiraz from Barossa. Opaque purple/black in color, the nose is redolent of pain grille, vanilla, Asian spices, violets, black currants, and blackberry liqueur. Full-bodied and firm on the palate, the wine has excellent depth, gobs of ripe fruit, and good balance but is an infant developmentally. Give this lengthy blend 8-10 years in the cellar and drink it through 2035.
Wine Advocate # 173 Oct 2007