2009 Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz 750ml

Overview

Magill Estate Shiraz is intrinsically linked to the beginnings of Penfolds. It is sourced from the original Magill Estate Vineyard on the edge of Adelaide’s eastern suburbs, just eight kilometres from the CBD, with the fruit crushed, fermented and matured on-site at the original Penfolds Magill winery. First produced in 1983, the wine combines an elegant, medium-weight style with traditional winemaking methods including hand harvesting, open fermentation and basket pressing.

Vineyard

The wine comes from the 5.2-hectare Magill Estate Vineyard in South Australia. The vineyard's proximity to Adelaide and its direct connection to the original Penfolds winery give Magill Estate a distinctive place within the Penfolds portfolio as a single-vineyard Shiraz.

Vintage

A mild winter brought adequate rainfall to replenish soil moisture, followed by a typically dry spring and warm conditions that supported strong canopy development. Crop thinning was used to control vigour and yield. Hot weather in late January and early February accelerated sugar and flavour development, with individual blocks and parcels picked and fermented separately. Harvest took place from 3 to 6 February 2009.

Winemaking

The fruit was hand-picked, vinified in open fermenters and basket pressed. The wine was matured for 12 months in 67% new French oak hogsheads, 25% new American oak hogsheads and the balance in one-year-old French oak hogsheads.

Producer Tasting Notes

Penfolds: “Garnet red. Naturally, an initial flurry of recognisable Magill berried fruits, and tell-tale evocative barrel fermentation notes and an array of varietal spices. With this year’s release stone fruits and red liquorice aromatics then ascend … outpaced by a higher trajectory of white blossom and (sherbet-like) spice.”

Penfolds: “Medium-bodied. Softened, chocolaty, mouth coating tannins. Finessed, stylish, polished (no doubt compliments of basket-press). Mouth watering acidity tempers an otherwise rich and full palate … Gently persuasive, finely layered, unabashed Shiraz.”

Critic Reviews

95/100 — Ben Edwards, Halliday Wine Companion
“This edition of Magill Estate Shiraz, like so many before, offers a generous personality of spiced plums, fruitcake and succulent sweet oak, in harmony with its fruit; medium-bodied and lively, the tannins are ample, ripe succulent and long.”
Tasted 17 January 2012; Published 30 June 2021

94/100 — Bob Campbell
Tasted February 2012

92/100 — Tom Cannavan
“From the Penfolds home estate vineyard in front of their original winery close to Adelaide, this is made in the 160-year-old winery in big, square open fermenters and then basket-pressed. Ageing is in 67% new French and 25% new American hogsheads, the balance in second use French oak. A bit of real meaty concentration here, a lovely sense of cool earthiness and dark, sinewy black fruit. The palate has a delicious dry, savoury character with a touch of spice and pepper, a touch of leather too … then that serious, creamy, dark and structured character asserts giving this a long, rich finish.”
Tasted January 2012

92/100 — Jeremy Oliver
Tasted January 2010

Specifications

• Vintage: 2009
• Grape Variety: Shiraz
• Vineyard: Magill Estate Vineyard, 5.2 hectares
• Region: Adelaide Zone, South Australia, Australia
• Alcohol: 14.5%
• Sweetness: Dry
• Harvest: 3–6 February 2009
• Production: Hand-Picked, Open Fermented, Basket Pressed
• Maturation: 12 months
• Oak: 67% New French Oak, 25% New American Oak, Balance One-Year-Old French Oak Hogsheads
• Total Acidity: 7.0 g/L
• pH: 3.54
• Drinking Window: 2014–2030
• Ownership: Treasury Wine Estates