Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon Ampoule
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 20 to 50+ years from the vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted rack of lamb, Prime dry-aged ribeye steak, Slow-braised beef cheeks
✨ Technical Specifications
Penfolds Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon Ampoule represents one of the most exclusive and theatrical releases in wine history. The wine itself is sourced from Block 42 of the Kalimna Vineyard in the Barossa Valley, home to what are widely considered the oldest continuously producing Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the world, planted in 1885. These ancient, dry-grown vines yield fruit of extraordinary concentration and complexity. In 2012, Penfolds commissioned South Australian studio artists to create a limited run of twelve hand-blown glass ampoules to house the legendary 2004 vintage. Lacking a traditional cork or screwcap, the ampoule requires a senior Penfolds winemaker to personally travel to the collector's location with a specially designed sterling silver scribe to open it. The wine inside is a masterclass in power and elegance, showcasing deep dark berry fruit, refined French oak integration, and a seamless, velvety structure that honors its historic terroir.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1844 by Dr. Christopher and Mary Penfold at Magill Estate in the Mount Lofty foothills, Penfolds represents one of the foundational cornerstones of Australian fine wine. Over nearly two centuries, the house evolved from crafting fortified tonics to pioneering modern multi-regional and multi-vineyard blending across South Australia's premier terroirs, including the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Coonawarra. Soils span from rich terra rossa over limestone to weathered ironstone and alluvial clays under warm Mediterranean climates tempered by maritime breezes. Under the long-term stewardship of Chief Winemaker Peter Gago, the house adheres to Sustainable Winegrowing Australia standards while preserving an unmistakable house style defined by meticulous fruit classification, submerged-cap fermentation, and structured maturation in American and French oak hogsheads. Benchmark bottlings such as Grange (Bin 95), Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz, and Yattarna Chardonnay define the apex of collectible New World viticulture.
🍇 Grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon 100%
🍷 ABV
14.0% - 14.5%