Coonawarra maestro - Kym Tolley of Penley Estate

It was great to have Kym Tolley from Penley Estate call by yesterday afternoon. He is a very well respected Aussie winemaker who originates from two pioneering Australian wine families the Penfolds and the Tolleys. I wasn't aware that John Duval was a great friend of his - in fact he was best man at Kym's wedding and they worked together at Penfolds.
He loved seeing Chipping Campden even though it was a rather damp and miserable afternoon and we managed to taste through a few wines which I have listed below. Since a number of his wines were featured in the last edition of the Wine Advocate (and received very complimentary scores) he has had even greater interest from the American market.
We tasted through the following wines;
2004 Chardonnay Penley Estate, Coonawarra
Beautifully ripe without that overpowering opulence you often find in Aussie Chardonnay's. The oak enhances and lifts the fruit, showing no sign of fading, perfectly mature.
2005 Penley Hyland Shiraz, Coonawarra
Lovely fruit on the palate with a hint of chocolate and spice, fantastic silky texture. Kym reckoned that 2005 was a great year for Shiraz. We certainly don't disagree.
2006 Penley Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra
2006 was a great year for Cabernet and this is a beautifully made wine with the emphasis on elegance rather than power. The terra rossa soils in Coonawarra are perfect for Cabernet and this is drinking well now but will be even better in a year or two. This wine was recently voted Australia's best value red by the Australian Penguin Wine Guide. A great accolade indeed.
We hope Kym is able to return to present a tasting, perhaps in the Autumn of next year. His wines offer incredible value for money and are well worth trying, we certainly will be showing some of them at our Christmas tasting.