2004 Penfolds Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Kalimna Vineyard Block 42

Bright violet. Jawdroppingly pure bouquet of blackberry, boysenberry, blackcurrant, kirsch, exotic tobacco, graphite and licorice, with a crystalline mineral tone running all the way through. Like liquid velvet in the mouth, showing a stunning melange of dark berry flavors that seem weightless but pack an amazing wallop of flavor. This is only 13.4% alcohol but has the impact of a 17% monster. Finishes on a delicate floral note-and then the blackberry, licorice and candied violet flavors snap back with a vengeance. The finish refuses to die. Penfolds claims that this is one of the oldest plots of cabernet sauvignon on earth, planted in the mid-1880s; the only other bottlings were in 1953 , 1961, 1963, 1964 and 1996. Remarkable for its concentration, elegance and balance and probably the greatest Australian wine I've been privileged to drink.