Awards, Ratings & Reviews
96/100 — Jeni Port · 2023 Vintage
96/100 — Winepilot · 2023 Vintage · Tasted: Jul 2025
“Marselan is one exciting addition to the Penfolds Chinese Wine Trial (CWT) programme, a French-bred cross of Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache that has taken to Chinese soils with success. Here, Marselan (11%) from Ningxia with its sweet, spicy fruitiness is the perfect foil for herbal-edged Cabernet sourced from the super high-altitude Shangri-La region in Yunnan province. A striking wine by any measure beautifully captured in lifted cassis, sweet stewed plum, blueberry, earth and herbs, a whiff of potpourri. Impressive, svelte, long and powerful palate flowing smoothly across the tongue and running long bringing a mix of earth, boot polish and leather savouriness to close. Tannins are super fine adding to the textural quality of the wine. Quite the sophisticate.”
94/100 — Decanter · 2023 Vintage · Tasted: Aug 2025
When to drink: 2026 to 2040
About This Wine
In a time-honoured and distinctive Penfolds House Style, this third Chinese Wine Trial combines the essence of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Shangri-La region and Marselan from Ningxia. The Shangri-La region is in the Yunnan province, one of the most beautiful locations in China. Yunnan is in the far Southwest, bordering Burma, Laos, and Vietnam. The high altitude of the vineyards provides ideal cool, dry conditions for ripening Cabernet Sauvignon. Ningxia, a small autonomous region in north-central China, has been at the forefront of modern winemaking since 1982. It has attracted significant local and international investment in both vineyards and production facilities. The region benefits from the Helan Mountain range, which runs North to South and shelters the area from harsh weather coming from the West. The nearby Yellow River supplies vital irrigation water, distributed via sophisticated drip systems. To withstand Ningxia’s harsh winters, vines are carefully buried under soil by late November and uncovered in April – a traditional practice that protects them from extreme cold.
An otherwordly structural and flavour charm reflects both varietal and regional composition. Cabernet Sauvignon fruits afford a familial ID, while Marselan delivers mid-palate richness and a noble point-of-difference. Savoury flavours of grilled lamb, rosemary, cumin, pink peppercorns, and celery salt contrast with an emerging sweetness of sticky date pudding, and lavender. To complete the package, an acidity sensibility and tannin fineness & tension. Arguably knocking on the door… of one day soon becoming a Penfolds Bin?!
Winemaker notes
“This third CWT trial release blended from Cabernet off elevated vineyards of Shangri-La and Marselan from Ningxia may baffle some… Tasting blind might reveal a call of Napa or Australia or France? It’s a Penfolds red, so no doubt a Cab/Shiraz blend? Not quite. The label reveals China. And, Cab/Marselan. Impressive.”
— Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker
Specifications
- Vintage: 2023
- Grape Variety: 89% Cabernet Sauvignon & 11% Marselan
- Region: Shangri-La / Yunnan / China; Ningxia / China
- Maturation: 13 months in French and American oak hogsheads (24% new)
- Alcohol: 14.5%
- Drinking Window: Now–2033
