A night of fine wines
Australian wine Penfolds has captivated wine lovers globally. It has a rich heritage and commitment to fine wines for nearly 175 years.
I recently went to Bangkok to witness the unveiling of The Penfolds Collection 2018 at an exclusive event held at the Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort. The unveiling, hosted by Penfolds chief winemaker Peter Gago and set against the backdrop of the Chao Phraya River, was also headlined by the 64th consecutive release of 2014 Grange.
We sampled the new vintage release of The Penfolds Collection 2018 and it certainly did not disappoint!
Peter said, “We have been in Southeast Asia for decades and today, I am honored to unveil Collection 2018 at the crossroads of the region here in Bangkok. The Penfolds Collection 2018 is nearly 175 years of cumulative endeavor and one reason to celebrate.”
The flagship Grange, which we were also able to try that night, is the result of discovery, faith, doubt and triumph of the wine company. The 2014 Grange release is true to what Penfolds’ first chief winemaker and creator of Grange Max Schubert first imagined it should be — a wine that can stand on its own two feet throughout the world and will be capable of improvement year on year.
Peter added that Wrattonbully grapes appear in Grange for the first time in the 2014 Grange release, and already, the iconic wine has been garnering critical acclaim from wine critics worldwide. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate has given the 2014 Grange a 98 points rating (out of 100), noting that the wine is “rich, concentrated and intense, the 2014 Grange delivers exactly what we’ve come to expect from this Penfolds icon wine.”
Each wine within the collection has its own individual “style.” There is no better representation than the 2016 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz with Peter saying, “This 2016 vintage release retains style yet pushes Cabernet/Shiraz blend boundaries, ever so deftly.”
The white wine Reserve Bin A has reaped its own personality and style. As Penfolds would describe it, it is “wonderfully complex yet linear and focused.”
The Bin 311 Chardonnay is a reflection of the winemakers’ mantra: “We always go where the fruit grows best and where it best suits style.” In 2017, the fruit sourcing moved to multiregional cool-climate regions: Adelaide Hills, Tasmania and Tumbarumba. Peter noted, “Add a little new oak to interlock any regional irregularity to seal the deal, our Bin 311 encapsulates reinvention, rebirth and resurrection.”
The wines went well with the carefully chosen Thai bites passed around the whole night, which included skewered Hokkaido scallops, minced pork wrapped in cucumber, fish cakes, grilled chicken and, of course, Pad Thai (Thai noodles).
The Penfolds Collection 2018 is now available and would make a perfect Christmas present!
(For more information, visit ww.penfolds.com.)