1993 Penley Estate Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

Kym Tolley has a real understanding of how to make a multi layered wine. There are plenty of wine makers who produce top wines which literally make themselves - get the viticulture right, and the composition right and the wine just falls into place - all the wine maker has to do is make sure he doesn't mess up what nature has bestowed. Tolley's wines are about secondary flavours and aromas. He works hard at the viticulture, but then adds to the fruit by the wine making process. The concept is not new - the Bordelaise take it for granted and regard wine made any other way as fit for simpletons only. However, even they are becoming divided on this issue. Opaque brick red colour. The nose is magnificent and immediately reveals the sophisticated wine that is behind the aroma. The wine is almost perfumed with the smells of confectionary, cedar, spice, mint, violets and ripe plums. The palate continues to express the multi layered approach found on the nose. The palate is mouth filling, concentrated, ripe plum, spice, blackcurrant flavours with a hint of aniseed. Outstanding, fine grain tannin structure - excellent length, perfect balance and very long spiced cedar aftertaste. Cellar 5 - 10 years.