Penfolds Max’s Cabernet Sauvignon Review: Structured, Restrained, and Quietly Rewarding
Penfolds Max’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 was the final bottle in our Max’s trio. After tasting the Shiraz and Shiraz Cabernet earlier in the week, this Cabernet arrived with quiet confidence. The label—Penfolds’ classic presentation with Max Schubert’s profile tucked into the corner—remains as refined and familiar as ever. Our expectations leaned toward structure and oak, but what we found was a wine with restraint, lift, and ultimately, the most intrigue of the three.
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Vintage: |
2021 |
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Region: |
South Australia |
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Varietal: |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
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ABV: |
14.5% |
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RRP: |
~$30–35 AUD |
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Format: |
750mL |
Appearance
Dark and brooding in low light, but reveal it to the sun, and it glows with a vivid ruby red core. Legs form at a medium pace—plentiful but not syrupy. The wine gives away its structure before you even taste it.
Aroma / Nose
First impression: spice and a little oak, with fruit quietly waiting underneath. It doesn’t leap from the glass—more reserved than bold. But as time passes, the nose becomes increasingly jammy, unfolding into something more expressive. A subtle transformation that rewards patience.
Palate / Taste
This is a South Australian Cabernet that builds rather than bursts.
Tannins grip steadily—first the gums, then the tongue. Oak makes an immediate statement, with alcohol warmth and acid tension following through the chest and throat. But beneath the structure, fruit lingers: think plum, perhaps even nectarine, though it’s not sweet. Spice threads through, but never dominates. It’s a wine that keeps its secrets until you really sit with it.
Finish
Firm and dry, with oak and acidity carrying the longest notes. There’s a kick on the swallow—likely from both alcohol and acidity—but the lingering presence is fruit, subtle and persistent. This isn’t a soft landing, but it’s a deliberate one.
Food Pairing
We shifted from our usual cheese board to a mix of pork, prawn, duck, and bacon.
Cheddar: softened the structure slightly—coaxing fruit and subtle sweetness to the front.
Fried duck: brought no compromise—the oak and acid held strong.
Bacon: added a little fruit interest but left the wine’s backbone intact.
Prawn and pork cakes: surprised us, the fruit became silky, not sweet, dancing between the oak and acid in an unexpectedly elegant way.
This bottle didn’t bend easily to food—but with time and contrast, it began to reveal more.
ATC Verdict: Is It Worth the Splurge?
Penfolds Max’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 was the quiet standout of the Max’s trio. It developed in the glass, stood up to food, and gave us something to talk about between sips. The oak and acidity feel dominant at first, but with patience and attention, deeper layers emerge. Time rewards the drinker.
Would we drink it again? Without hesitation.
Would we cellar it? We’d be curious.
Was it worth opening? Absolutely.
Structured and expressive. The most composed wine in the Max’s lineup.
Editor’s Note
This was the final bottle in our Max’s trio—opened after the Shiraz and Shiraz Cabernet had already set their tone. Kiki and I expected something firm and familiar, but this one surprised us. It didn’t shout. It didn’t soften much with food. But over time, it revealed more nuance than either of its siblings. There was no setup, no script—just one bottle, a relaxed table, and the patience to listen.
–Adrian – Editor at All That Is Cool
Please drink responsibly.
All alcohol reviews on All That Is Cool are intended for audiences aged 18+. We support mindful, moderate consumption and only feature bottles we’ve personally tasted and evaluated.
