Penfolds, The Max Schubert Cabernet Shiraz

Penfolds, The Max Schubert Cabernet ShirazThis brand new Penfolds label pays homage to Grange founder, Max Schubert. Deep garnet purple in color, the 2012 The Max Schubert Cabernet Shiraz offers a slowly evolving, complex nose with baked berry, cassis and cedar notes over spice box and earth hints. Medium bodied with a rock solid foundation of grainy tannins and refreshing acidity, the muscular fruit is densely packed at this youthful stage, leading to a long if somewhat restrained finish.

fresh and vibrant

As it almost always is this is more refined than the Chambertin if less powerful and a bit less mineral driven

Here too there is a hint of warmth but in this case it is much less intrusive if not invisible

mocha and candied licorice flavors show superb depth and clarity while hints of floral pastilles and Moroccan spices add complexity

The supporting tannins are finer than those of the 8 Ouvrées though this doesn’t quite have the same level of underlying material

This excellent effort is a big and built-to-age Bourgogne

all of which is trimmed in enough wood to notice

yellow flowers

delicious and nicely balanced finale

excellent concentration and a chalky finish

One last observation is the prominence of Cabernet-driven aromas of medical herb and wild sage

Medium-bodied on the palate