The invitation to taste wines produced in distant lands may raise eyebrows, but it’s an opportunity one shouldn’t miss. Over an extensive period, I’ve sampled an impressive selection of Cabernet Sauvignon wines from Coonawarra, each marked by the region’s unique dark red soils. My preparation involved long walks through London’s Regent’s Park and St James’s, contributing to an experience curated by Penfolds called The Rewards of Patience. This initiative offers a thorough examination of their renowned wines and captures critical reflections from an eclectic group of wine writers.
Unique in the wine world, The Rewards of Patience assembles a diverse panel every few years to delve into the remarkable history of Penfolds, exploring nearly every significant wine produced since the early 1950s. Under the guidance of Andrew Caillard MW, these detailed assessments culminate in a publication that serves as a reference for collectors worldwide.
My journey into the latest edition began back in 2019 at Penfolds’ headquarters in Adelaide, where I participated in tasting the eighth version of The Rewards of Patience. Fast forward five years and the ninth edition has gone global, highlighting renowned wines such as Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon and the esteemed Grange Shiraz across multiple cities including Paris and London.
The tasting experience was both novel and intellectually stimulating, allowing me to reassess familiar wines in an entirely different context. The logistics of organizing such a comprehensive tasting were monumental, involving hundreds of wines and multiple bottles for each to ensure a robust evaluation. Despite some gaps in availability due to shipping limitations, the endeavor demanded meticulous planning and execution.
In a remarkable twist, as the last-minute details unfolded, Peter Gago, Penfolds’ chief winemaker, invited me back to Adelaide to explore additional wines that had been left behind, including critically underrated Bin 707 and Grange vintages. This proved to be an enlightening experience, revealing the often-overlooked nuances of wines not traditionally celebrated as icons.
Throughout the tastings, I founded an unexpected realization: the value found in wines that are considered "minor" can be just as significant as their celebrated counterparts. Much like lesser-known works by great artists that deserve appreciation, these wines too speak volumes when given the chance to shine in their own right. This journey reinforced the importance of patience and perspective in both wine and art, revealing that even the quieter voices can resonate powerfully in the tapestry of experience.
For those interested in exploring the nuances of Australian wine further, resources include: