Penley Francis Cabernet Franc 2022

Founded in 1988 by descendants of the Penfolds and Tolley winemaking families, Penley Estate is a high quality, boutique winery crafting exceptional wines in Coonawarra. The climate in this part of Australia is a cool climate, with cold & wet winters, long cool ripening season. Renowned for the best Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon for 50+ years, Coonawarra's wines have an excellent fruit/acid/tannin ratio. 

Located in the center of Coonawarra, Penley Estate is continuing a family tradition that spans five generations. The winery was established in 1988 when the Tolley children continued the winemaking heritage of their pioneering families, Penfold and Tolley, both storied names in the Australian wine industry. In 1844, Mary Penfold defied stereotypes and was the driving force behind the establishment of McGill Estate. Similarly, from 1948-1961, Gladys Penfold Hyland was Penfold's Chairman of the Board. Their descendants, sisters Bec and Ang Tolley, run Penley Estate, proudly channeling the vim and might of their ancestors. Penley Estate's 240 acres of vineyards were planted atop Coonawarra's "terra rossa" soils with the aim of producing terroir-driven wines with distinctive regional character, and is now regarded as one of the region's leading Cabernet and Shiraz producers.

Coonawarra is known for its unique terra rossa soils – a thin band of vivid red earth overlaying soft limestone that runs nine miles long by one and a half miles wide. Soils and climate alike are ideal for viticulture: mineral rich and free draining earth meets with cold winters and a long, cool ripening season, allowing the grapes to slowly develop flavor and tannin ripeness. The team pursues a water deficit program promoting water stress prior to veraison, followed by sufficient moisture to see the vines continue functioning throughout the late fall harvest. In conjunction with hand pruning, this program ensures balanced vines with healthy canopies and crops of small, intensely flavored berries at yields of around two tons per acre.

Winemaker Kate Goodman was named Australia's Winemaker of the Year in 2018, and has excelled throughout her 25+ year winemaking tenure throughout South Australia's diverse wine regions. The wines of Coonawarra continue to inspire her with their unmistakable expression of the region’s unique soils. To achieve this pure regional expression, Goodman makes use of modern technology as well as traditional techniques adopted through her many years of experience. Small batches are fermented by site and clone, in a combination of temperature controlled tanks and French oak barriques. Traditional heading down boards are employed for greater tannin and color extraction, resulting in the region’s characteristic fine, dusty tannin profile.

Penley Estate’s wines offer balance, complexity, minerality and wonderful longevity; but above all else, a tangible encounter with Coonawarra. It is no coincidence that Cabernet Franc is also excelling in Coonawarra. Cab Franc is the younger sibling, if you will, of Cabernet Sauvignon, and can be used for blending, or used on its own in exceptional situations like this one. Youthful, modern and vibrant, this unoaked Cabernet Franc is driven by its intense perfume of flowers and ripe red fruits. Bursting with complex whole bunch characters, violets, Turkish delight and spice. The palate is juicy and delicious, with a textural framework of tannin supporting the core of intensely flavored fruit. A generous and flavorful wine for any occasion.