The giant Max Schubert (Penfolds) went to Europe in 1950 on a study trip of sherry and later spent time in Bordeaux learning about the great Chateaux Cabernets of this remarkable region. He returned determined to make wines as great from South Australian fruit. Cabernet was scarce so he turned to Shiraz and thus was born Penfolds Grange. It was not till the 1980s that Cabernet was widely planted in the Barossa Valley.
Glug was involved with Barossa Cabernet from our early vintages in 2004 and 2005 though we did not take on grapes contracts until 2011. We now understand the potential of this remarkable variety very well since 2019 separated several of the best barrels to be released as Winemaker’s Individual Barrel Selections. This Glug Reserve will repay cellaring though is gorgeous now and long experience now makes me wary about saying wines like this will be better in 10 years. They will be different but better I am not sure so drink a few bottles early.
