Wine Peeps is an independent wine blog dedicated to helping you get the most bang for your buck in wine. We do this through blind tastings of wine from around the world and calculations of 
A Wine for Tonight: 2006 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet
By Kori ~ January 7th, 2010.
Would you like a quick suggestion for a good wine to drink tonight (or this weekend) that won’t break your budget and is widely available? Many of our readers have said this is something they would like, so here is this week’s selection, the 2006 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet from South Australia.
Our selection criteria include:
- A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
- A price tag of <=$15
- Must be widely available
Penfolds is one of the oldest and most well-respected wineries in Australia. Located in South Australia, Penfolds was established by a transplanted English doctor in 1844. Dr. Christopher Rawson Penfold and his wife Mary built their home at Magill, near Adelaide, and surrounded it with vine cuttings they brought from the south of France. Today, Penfolds boasts two cellar doors (aka tasting rooms), one at the original Magill Estate and the other in Nuriootpa in the heart of the Barossa Valley. Penfolds is most famous for its top of the line Grange wines. This Koonunga Hill wine is from one of their value lines. Nevertheless, according to some “experts,†it is a wine that can age for 20 years which is remarkable for a wine at this price point.
“Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet, a multi-district blend based on Barossa, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra fruit, has become a Penfolds classic with a reputation for over-delivery of quality at its pricepoint.†–Penfolds
2006 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet (South Australia): 78% Shiraz, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark, inky purple. Very aromatic with black fruit and earth notes. Blackberry pie, earth, and spice come through on the palate. Full-bodied with high, drying tannins and a long finish. Extremely smooth and well-balanced.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine Exchange (California), $8; Available elsewhere, $8 to $14
Filed under: A Wine for Tonight, Australian Wine, Five-Bangs For Your Buck Wines, Red Wine, Wines Under $10, Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, Wines Under $25
I think I’ve had this wine. I’m sorta Shiraz’d out at the moment. Looking for less jammy wines. Good informative post, however.
Josh @nectarwine on twitter
Thanks, Josh. Funny how our palates go in cycles. Keeps things interesting. Cheers!