Penley Estate Francis Cabernet Franc 2021

Penley Estate was born from the marriage of two of South Australia’s pioneering wine families, the Penfolds and the Tolleys. Established in the mid 1980s from a few hectares of vines in the famous Coonawarra region, the estate shot to prominence in 1989 when Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon won Gold at the prestigious Adelaide Wine Show. Today, the estate has grown significantly to over 80 hectares of vines and a state of the art winery, run by 5th generation family members, sisters Ang & Bec Tolley. With winemaker Kate Goodman, they have revitalised the estate and created a new style of Coonawarra wine: softer and more elegant than the region has historically produced.

Penley have been experimenting with this variety for a few years and now it’s finally released as a permanent line, which matches the winery’s current ethos of moving towards fresher styles of wine.

30% whole bunches are used, and no oak. Youthful, vibrant and bursting with slippery medium-weight juicy violet and blackberry fruits, with a hint of meaty spice and soft chalky tannins holding it all together. Great on its own, slightly chilled and with charcuterie or middle-eastern barbequed meats.