Penfolds 802.A Luxury Superblend 2018

These are not the usual Special Bins that Penfolds releases every so often but this is a new wine that will be in regular production, although not every vintage. After 2018, the next release will be from the 2021 vintage.
Crushed blackberry meets chocolate and vanilla, even on the nose generosity and concentration are apparent right away. The first sip is full-on: bold, concentrated tannins, fine freshness that highlights the wonderfully generous, bold, big, muscular fruit. It is that delicious and pervasive acidity that allows every nuance to show: that pure flavour of wild blueberry, that note of cocoa powder, that powdery vanilla and nutmeg-scented texture, those fine-grained but ripe tannins with both their rigour and their juiciness. This is brooding, dark, and profound and for now, it only gives us an idea of what will be possible. A wonderful new addition to the range. Seamless and balanced.