Australian wines are ubiquitous in Singapore, given the relative proximity to the New World wine territory. Penfolds, being one of Australian’s oldest wine-makers, certainly deserves its place on the shelves in the local supermarkets. However, many casual wine consumers may not be familiar with the spectrum of collections that Penfolds actually produces.
Penfolds has just launched Max’s, a new wine collection with three different expressions – 2014 Shiraz, 2014 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon and 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, as a tribute to one of their own, Max Schubert. These new expressions from Penfolds promises to be “charming in character”, “contemporary” and “vibrant upon release”.
An Australian winemaking legend: Max Schubert
Max Schubert was the first to hold the appointment of Chief Winemaker at Penfolds, and held that honoured title between 1948 and 1975. In the fairy tale-like story, Max started at Penfolds at age 16 as a messenger boy. With his natural talents and inquisitiveness, combined with practical guidance from the old masters during his times, he became the Chief Winemaker at Penfolds at the youthful age of 33. Max’s legacy endures in Penfolds up to today, as he is credited with the creation of Penfolds Bin wines and the flagship Penfolds Grange Collection.
Max’s leadership and innovation benefited Australian wine industry as a whole, and he received many awards in his lifetime, including Member of the Order of Australia and the inaugural Maurice O’Shea Award for his contributions to the Australian wine industry. Max was also included in the 100 Most Influential Australians of the Century publication in 2001.
The Max’s range exhibits the deep dark crimson typical of a Penfolds red. Photo © Justin Teo.
The wines
The Max’s tribute range of wines has been crafted to be enjoyed off the shelf, without the cellaring that the Grange Collection requires. The wines are targeted at the younger and newer wine drinkers, with a more approachable style with more fruits and less tannins.
The Penfold’s Max’s range proves too pretty or too delicious not to snap a photo of. Photo © Justin Teo.
For example, the softer tannins in the 2014 Shiraz was uncannily inoffensive for me. Despite my fondness for big complex reds, I tend to shy away from Shiraz as a variety as it is typically too tannic for my beginner palate. Max’s 2014 Shiraz offers what was promised – a rich plummy fruits with chocolate tones on the palates that are all very easy to enjoy without sacrificing flavours.
Penfolds 2014 Max’s Shiraz, S$40. Photo courtesy of Penfolds.
The 2014 Shiraz Cabernet is a curious blend of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, an uncommon marriage between grapes that Australian wine-makers seemed to have perfected and convinced the rest of the world that it too, is worthy to be among the best of them. The legendary Penfolds ’62 Bin 60A, as Penfolds Ambassador Patrick Dowling pointed out, was a union between Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz too, and it is Penfolds’ most successful show wine ever. The Max’s 2014 Shiraz Cabernet may not have won any awards yet, but it certainly won some hearts during the tasting with its mix of spiced berries and creaminess, that give way to an elegant finish.
Patrick Dowling, Penfolds Ambassador, opens a bottle of the new Max’s range. Photo © Justin Teo.
Of the three wines, it was the perfume from my glass of Max’s 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon that I found most alluring. The sensual aroma of richness from black olives, sun-dried tomatoes and toffee apples wafted and scintillated my senses. Most savoury of the lot, this wine also exhibited the most oak structure in the palate with firm tannins and a rich long finish.
Penfolds Max’s range. 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2014 Shiraz Cabernet and 2014 Shiraz, S$40 each. Photo © Justin Teo.
Just as the wine profiles are crafted to be approachable, the new Penfolds Max’s range is also priced to attract the younger drinkers who are seeking more complexity and enjoyment without hurting their pockets. At S$40 each, with the level of craftsmanship and heritage in the Max’s range, the wines certainly offer great value for money. Penfolds Max’s tribute range is exclusively available now at all Cold Storage stores.
