Penley Estate 2020 Project VIII Shiraz Cabernet

The Penley Estate 2020 Project VIII Shiraz Cabernet is a beautiful wine inside and out. The label and bottle design are artwork in themselves, but inside the wine truly shines. It’s juicy, generous and creamy all in one with flavours of raspberry, licorice and blackcurrant. Enjoyed best with a nice meal, this special wine is offers something different to the classic Aussie blend. 

This week I simply had to share this bottle of wine with just about the best label I’ve ever seen. I know that is a big call but I am in love and I don’t care who knows it! Just look at this label design for yourself – and it doesn’t stop there! Even the cork has the cutest little windmill on it. I’ve been so obsessed with the label and general bottle design that I have been hoarding this wine – I do tend to do that. But a rainy weekend in Brisbane called for a warming wine and so I decided it was about time I opened that bottle! And I was sure glad I did because this Shiraz Cabernet is beautiful inside and out!

About Penley Estate

Penley Estate is located in Coonawarra with a wine-making history dating back to 1844, although it really began in a red sports car in 1945. Sound intriguing? This was when Reginald Lester Tolley met Judith Anne Penfold Hyland and sparks flew, bringing to life Penley as a business name. It was until 1988 that their children decided to create their own wines under Penley Estate and built a winery in 1995.

As the years went on Coonawarra wines fell out of fashion a little, and so they had to decide whether to continue on. Instead of selling, Ang and Bec Tolley decided to revitalise and refresh the wine to make it perfect for any occasion and for everyone to enjoy. Through their wines, they celebrate the fruit and honour the vine.

Why I loved the Penley Estate 2020 Project VIII Shiraz Cabernet

The first thing I love about the Penley Estate 2020 Project VIII Shiraz Cabernet is of course the label. The concept comes from the classic Comet design windmill. This was used in Coonawarra for many years to pump water and supply the grapevines. The wind farm is a symbol of the new generation of harnessing nature’s energy and is linked to how with this wine Penley Estate represents and refines a classic red wine blend in a modern style.

And modern and delicious this wine is! This Shiraz Cabernet blend is 60% Shiraz and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and was quite medium-bodied which meant it wasn’t too heavy. It was quite aromatic in the glass with hints of floral and raspberry. In the glass I found the wine to be packed full of flavour and quite juicy with a nice hit of tannins to balance it all out. Blackcurrants, raspberry and licorice along with a bit of cherry were the flavours swirling around for me. Along with the tannins, however, I found the wine had a nice creaminess to it that helped to balance out the youthful juiciness.

I loved how juicy and delicious this wine was. It is a classic blend but honestly offered something new and different. It is surprisingly drinking well for a young wine, but could also be aged for a few years to let the flavours develop further. Although it does sit at a higher price point, I think this wine is worth it for a refreshing and fresh approach to a classic.

What to enjoy it with

The Penley Estate 2020 Project VIII Shiraz Cabernet is best enjoyed with food. Even though it is more medium-bodied it will really shine with a good meal. A nice meal with a special someone or some special friends would be a great pairing.

In terms of food, this wine is quite versatile and could really be paired with anything! A classic combination would be steak or other grilled meats like lamb chops and a salad. You can’t get more Aussie than that! But you could also easily pair this with a nice pasta or a pizza party with friends. Because it isn’t super heavy it really lends itself to most cuisines which makes it a no brainer when it comes to taking your next meal up a notch.

In summary: the Penley Estate 2020 Project VIII Shiraz Cabernet

The Penley Estate 2020 Project VIII Shiraz Cabernet is so much more than a beautiful bottle of wine to look at. Although you might be tempted to hold on to it and stare at it like I have been (seriously I have even shown people on Zoom meetings because I love it so much). But this wine is beautiful on the inside too, and totally worth cracking into. It’s juicy, generous and creamy all in one. This wine is perfect for enjoying with a special meal, or would be a great gift!

To find out more about this wine, visit Penley Estate’s website.

Note: I was sent this wine as a sample. I was under no obligation to post about it.