Penfolds II Dourthe Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 is a limited release of extraordinary ambition — born from a quest to create something real, different, and aspiringly lofty. The result of a remarkable collaboration between Penfolds and their trusted Bordeaux partner Dourthe, this wine brings together the finest Cabernet Sauvignon from two of the world's greatest regions: 64% Bordeaux and 32% Coonawarra. Matured in predominantly new French oak, it has earned 96 points from Ken Gargett and 95 points from Decanter, Halliday Wine Companion, The Real Review, and Ray Jordan. Peak drinking 2026–2052. A wine of the world.
Tasting Notes
Appearance
Deep magenta, opaque at the core — the rich, concentrated colour of a limited release Cabernet Sauvignon of genuine ambition, sourced from two of the world's greatest Cabernet regions and matured in predominantly new French oak.
Aroma
Brooding and deeply complex — a saturation of black fruits, predominantly blackcurrant and cassis with rosehip and damson, meshed with black olive tapenade and prosciutto. A heady perfume of garrigue — rosemary, sage, bay leaves, thyme, juniper, lavender, and mint — with star anise and musk adding intrigue. An initial impression of char and soot gives way to graphite and cigar box upon sitting. Real depth. Perceptually classic, yet entirely its own.
Palate
Immediately seduced by exotic yet restrained fruits — fresh blackcurrant, boysenberry, and mulberry — with an underlying gamey meatiness of cured meats and venison carpaccio. Granular tannins of mouthwatering grip complement the density of the palate. A minerality manifested as quarry stone with quartz and granite heaviness; polished oak and graphite affording a subtle conveyance to the back palate. Density, saturation, and grip define the structure. A taut muscularity. Roundness. Completeness. Otherness.
Pairs With
A wine of this ambition deserves the finest table — aged prime beef, venison, duck confit, truffle-based dishes, and aged hard cheeses are natural companions. Equally rewarding now with decanting, and will develop extraordinary complexity through to 2052.
Wine Sellers Direct Verdict
Penfolds II Dourthe is one of the most genuinely ambitious Cabernet Sauvignon releases in recent Australian wine history — not a marketing exercise, but a serious attempt to unite two of the world's great Cabernet regions in a single wine. The critical consensus is unambiguous: five reviewers, five scores of 95 points or above, led by Ken Gargett's 96. The Bordeaux component brings garrigue, graphite, and Old World structure; the Coonawarra component adds concentration, dark fruit, and regional minerality. The result is a wine that belongs to neither hemisphere entirely — and is more interesting for it. Compared to Penfolds Bin 707, this is more structured and intellectually complex; compared to a classified Bordeaux at this price point, it offers more fruit generosity and immediate accessibility. For a collector, this is a defining release. For a gift, it is unmatched in the current Penfolds range for ambition and critical standing.
Best for: Collectors and serious Cabernet enthusiasts seeking a genuinely world-class release.
Style: Structured, complex, dual-hemisphere Cabernet Sauvignon with extraordinary cellaring potential.
Occasion: Milestone gift, vertical collection, fine dining.
Who Should Drink This?
This is for the wine drinker who wants to experience something genuinely new — a Cabernet Sauvignon that belongs to both Bordeaux and Coonawarra, and to neither entirely. It is the natural choice for collectors building a Penfolds vertical, for those who want to compare Old World and New World Cabernet in a single glass, and for gift buyers who want to present something of genuine world-class standing. Drink now with at least one hour of decanting, or cellar to 2052 for the full expression of one of the most ambitious Australian wine collaborations ever produced.
Critic Scores
96 Points — Ken Gargett
95 Points — David Sly, Decanter
95 Points — Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion
95 Points — Huon Hooke, The Real Review
95 Points — Ray Jordan
Winemaking Notes
64% Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. The French component was made at two Dourthe-owned wineries in Bordeaux; the Australian component at Penfolds Nuriootpa Winery in South Australia. Both components were blended and bottled in South Australia. Maturation: Bordeaux component 12 months, Australian component 18 months — both in French oak barriques and hogsheads (84% new, 16% one-year-old). 13.5% ABV. Cork closure. Peak drinking 2026–2052.
Vintage Conditions
The 2022 Bordeaux vintage was defined by a warm and dry growing season — a complete contrast to the challenging 2021 season. Vines thrived in the warmth, producing sublime, balanced wines of remarkable freshness and vitality. In South Australia, a cooler-than-average spring brought isolated frost events to Coonawarra, mitigated effectively by strategic use of frost fans. Warmer conditions arrived in November, providing optimal conditions for flowering and fruit-set. Veraison was uniform; ripening ideal. Another stellar vintage for Australia's premier Cabernet Sauvignon region.
What's Similar?
Within the Penfolds range, Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon offers a comparable level of ambition and critical standing from a purely Australian perspective — choose Bin 707 if you prefer a single-country expression of Penfolds Cabernet. For a Bordeaux-only comparison at a similar tier, a classified Pauillac or Saint-Émilion Grand Cru offers comparable structure and longevity. Penfolds II Dourthe stands alone, however, as the only wine that genuinely unites both traditions in a single bottle.
