Our flagship red is a powerful, dense wine blended from special parcels of fruit from the Barossa and Clare. The wine was matured for twenty months in new French oak and was bottled unfiltered in order to preserve the rich fruit flavours.

VINEYARD

A blend of Barossa Valley and Clare Valley shiraz harvested in March 2006 at an average ripeness of 14.2º Baumé.

WINEMAKERS' NOTES

Colour: Opaque, inky.

Nose: Intense blackberry balanced by subtle cedary oak.

Palate: Rich and soft with exceptional length. A powerful concentration of fruit and dark chocolate.

Food: A must with rare beef fillet.

Cellaring: Potentially 20-25 years.

Winemakers: Ray Klavins & Stephen Stafford-Brookes

ANALYSIS

pH: 3.59
Total acidity: 6.55 g/L
Alcohol: 14.5% by volume
FOOD MATCH

Rack of Lamb with Goats Cheese Crust

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 whole racks of prime lamb
  • 2 bunches of fresh mint
  • 200g goats cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup good chicken or veal stock
  • 1 cup thickened cream
  • Grated or crumbled cheese

METHOD

Blend four fifths of the mint with the garlic, black pepper and enough oil to make a thick paste. Combine with four fifths of the cheese. Coat the racks with the paste.

Bake in a hot oven for twenty minutes. Rest, covered, in a warm oven for ten minutes.

Reduce stock by half its volume, add a generous splash of shiraz and the cream. Reduce again, then add remaining cheese and chopped mint.

This is very rich and needs a big wine to complement it.

MEDIA REVIEWS — CURRENT VINTAGE

BIG, BOLD: Penna Lane 2006 The Willsmore Reserve Shiraz

A big, bold blend, may have a touch of volatile acidity but it doesn't mar the wine, and perhaps adds extra interest. Shy chocolate, vanilla and herbal touches on the nose over rich, jammy plum fruit. Very fruit sweet and deep in the mouth. Cellar one to 10 years plus. 90 points. SEE CLIPPING

Huon Hooke, Gourmet Traveller WINE, August–September 2008


VIBRANT: Penna Lane 2006 The Willsmore Reserve Shiraz

A brooding, powerful wine ... Intense blackberry and cassis fruit on the nose and palate, some background spiciness, upfront chocolate characters and silky smooth tannins. Drink with rare fillet steak or cellar for up to 15 years. SEE CLIPPING

Kerry Skinner, Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong) 4 June 2008


BOTTLER: Penna Lane 2006 The Willsmore Shoraz

Here's a wine of fine structure that would be great with scallopine, rosemary and walnut marinated lamb fillets or braised venison shanks. It is inky purple in the glass and has blackcurrant and cigar box aromas. Profound cassis flavour glides onto the front of the palate and maraschino cherry, bitter chocolate and mocha coffee fruit characters meld with spicy oak on the middle palate. Velvet-smooth earthy tannins feature at the finish — SEE REVIEW. John also wrote a lengthy feature story on Penna Lane and The Willsmore — READ STORY.

John Lewis, The Herald Weekender (Newcastle) 28 May 2008


MEDIA REVIEWS — PRIOR VINTAGES

FIVE GOBLETS: Penna Lane 2005 The Willsmore Reserve Shiraz

Deep, dense colour; a rich and complex bouquet exuding berry fruit and quality French oak; silky power to the blackberry and black cherry fruit; ripe tannins, and again that quality oak. Rating 96. To 2025. READ HIS FULL COMMENTS

James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2008