50 Year Old Rare Tawny NV Penfolds

Professional reviews

Robert Parker (99)

Pale tawny/amber colored with a green tinge at the rim, the NV 50 Year Old Rare Tawny (Series Three) has a gorgeous walnut and fruit cake-laced nose with a core of liquid licorice, coffee, treacle, roasted nuts and salted caramel. The palate is decadently rich and unctuous with tons of sweetness and the freshness to balance with an epically long fruit and nut finish.

Winespectator (98)

A new addition that sits very much in the collectible section of the Penfolds range, just 330 500ml bottles are slated for release in a rolling annual series. The Penfolds prowess in the Tawny genre is well-established by Grandfather and Great Grandfather and this is a blend that links through both these wines. Some component of the glass stored 1915 are in the blend, the founding component of Grandfather, as are components from 1940 and 1945. The depth, freshness, complexity and purity all combine here to spellbinding effect, layers of rancio and gently caramelized toasted nuts give way to hints of raisins, burnt toffee and toasted spiced bread. The palate is incredibly focused and is brightly lit with crystalline acid presence. The sweetness is soulfully balanced, flavours of dried plums, vanilla, dark grilled nuts and mocha linger seemingly endless. Profound.

BOW (9.25)