89 Points Robert Parker
For this report I’d been on a quest for months to find a large brand that delivered great quality, varietal, if not regional, expression and a bit of character all at a bargain price. Trust me, there was a lot of frog-kissing before I found this prince: 2008 Koonunga Hill Seventy Six Shiraz Cabernet. Deep garnet-purple colored, it provides a good intensity of pure, crushed blackberry and black cherry aromas with underlying spicy notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, plus whiffs of anise and vanilla. I like that there’s no dumbing-down going on with the structure of this wine. The palate here gives crisp acid and medium-firm finely grained tannins to support the concentrated fruit, finishing long. Enjoy it now to 2015.
Source: Robert Parker (Robert Parker Wine Advocate) by Lisa Perrotti-Brown. October, 2010
94 Points James Halliday
The special, on-premise version of Koonunga Hill with its original label; has good crimson-purple colour and abundant blackberry, plum and fruitcake flavours on the full-bodied palate; well-balanced, with typical Penfolds tannins to conclude. Gold Sydney Wine Show '10. Drink to 2023.
James Halliday. June, 2021