Among the 2002 vintages released from Australia earlier this year, Penfolds Bins and Ultra Premium wines have generated excitement among industry experts and consumers alike.

Among Aussie winemakers, the 2002 vintage will long be remembered for the cool temperatures, the smaller yields and the outstanding quality of the grapes harvested.

In South Australia, the relatively cool spring and summer gave way to a warm, dry autumn, which helped to ripen the vines and produce a crop with intense colors and elegant fruit flavors. The resulting wines, particularly the reds, are intensely flavored with outstanding length and poise.

In the 2002 Penfolds, shiraz grapes were ripe and intense with a real depth of flavor. The grapes retained their character, yet showed no signs of over-ripeness or "jamminess."

The Penfolds Barossa Valley cabernet sauvignon fruit was also outstanding, showing a density and richness of flavor while retaining its distinct fruit character.

The Penfolds Ultra Premium Collection, released this summer, features six high end wines, each representing Penfolds’ signature richness, generosity of flavor and fine balance. This collection includes the millennium vintage of Penfolds Grange and the much-anticipated 2002 vintage of Yattarna Chardonnay, Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon, RWT Shiraz, Magill Estate Shiraz, and the 2001 St. Henri Shiraz.

Particularly noteworthy is the 2000 Penfolds Grange. Made of 100 percent shiraz grapes, it is only the fifth all-shiraz vintage of Grange, along with the 1951, 1952, 1963 and 1999 vintages.

Peter Gago, Penfolds chief winemaker, recently commented, "The 2000 Penfolds Grange highlights the superb Barossa Valley old vine resources and shows great fruit intensity, power and poise."

The Penfolds winemaking team also touted the outstanding quality of the grapes it had to work with for the 2002 vintage. The cool conditions and exceptional harvest yielded such delicious products as the 2002 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon, which exudes purity and power, and the 2002 RWT Shiraz, which is intensely flavored but with a more elegant character than what is found in warmer vintages.

Other highly rated selections from Down Under’s most famous winery include the 2001 Magill Estate Shiraz, which has been described by Wine Spectator magazine as "firm and densely packed," and the 2001 RWT Shiraz, which was found to be "ripe and open-textured with a persistent finish."

Additionally, Wine Spectator has praised Penfolds 2001 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon for its "rich texture" and "refined approach," while the Washington Post wine critic wrote that the Penfolds 2003 Bin 2 Shiraz Mourvedre "packs plenty of power…yet classy."

Raise Your Glass is sponsored by Chris Gasbarro’s Fine Wine and Spirits. For more information on wines and upcoming wine events, visit the official website.