Penfoldsrsquo; Red Wine Trail takes Grange-level shiraz (50 percent from Kalimna) and ages it in French rather than American oak. Its flavors carry a Barossa signature without going too ripe. In fact, this 2001 tastes like black currants and fresh cherries preserved at the exact moment of peak ripeness. The other way itrsquo;s marked as a Barossa shiraz is the floral character, here equally fresh, cool as dew on violets. The French oak may have helped lock in the vibrant magenta color, and it may emphasize the supple richness fo texture. But the main play is in the fruit, hight-toned, sunny, beautifully grown.

Community Tasting Notes (average 92.8 pts. and median of 93 pts. in 37 notes)