Excellent. Superb wine, quite different to Kalimna of same age; finer and less full on palate. 14% alc. though not really evident given balance with acid. Colour: vibrant black currant Bouquet: black currant, leather, cedar Palate: rich and full bodied, blackberries, plums, spice and black pepper, black olives and licorice. Opens out beautifully over 3 hours. Fresh, long clean finish with some green herbal undertones. May 2020
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent, 14% alc. Drinking beautifully. Had the Kalimna the previous evening, same vintage, and the comparison is interesting. Previously, I suggested it was 'so different to the Bin 28 Kalimna from this same year: More subtle and less full bodied.' It's amazingly balanced and with breathing it becomes amazingly concentrated. It's a far more elegant wine than the Kalimna. Very similar comments to April 2018. Colour: deep black berry, crimson edges Bouquet: blackberries and other black fruits, cherries, olives, and a touch of mint, but more secondary characters, leather, dark chocolate, dusty, light spice, cereal Palate: as bouquet, blueberry, liquorice, briary, savoury earthy characters, black pepper, big soft fine grained tannins, full bodied but very balanced, great mouthfeel, long clean finish. Elegant, and palate has balance of primary fruit and secondary characters. Gorgeous and still has years. June 2019
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent, so different to the Bin 28 Kalimna from this year. More subtle and less full bodied. Drinking beautifully. 14% alc. Colour: deep black berry, crimson edges Bouquet: blackberries and other black fruits, cherries, olives, and a touch of mint, but more secondary characters, leather, dark chocolate, dusty, light spice Palate: as bouquet, liquorice, briary, savoury earthy characters, black pepper, big soft tannins, full bodied but very balanced, great mouthfeel, long clean finish. Elegant, and palate has balance of primary fruit and secondary characters. April 2018
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A great value drop. The ageing has done it justice. Nice bouquet and such pleasant drinking! Rich chocolate and spice notes. I only wish I had another left to drink!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
(Justina's B'day!) Rich dark plums, ash and leather. velvet tannins, juicy dark fruit (mulberry) with some classic barnyard. A well developed aussie shiraz - almost textbook.
A full-on Coonawarra Shiraz. A pleasure to drink and enjoyed by all. Some age coming through, still plenty of fruit with nice length but not much nose. Nothing shabby with this 10 yr old baby
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another dinner with huge BBQ'ed rib-eye steaks sent me to the basement in search for some "kapow". As always, my wife tested the wine blind. Managed to fool her into thinking this was a Northern Rhone..... Anyway, it isn't and the ripe fruitiness, also made her change her mind later in the guessing game. Dark (!) in the glass. On the nose lush, ripe dark berries with some "mineral tightness" (in lack of a better word). I can understand why my wife initially was guessing for Northern Rhone. The palate did reflect the nose to a large extent, and the fruit caracteristics combined with rather solid tannins made this a decent wine for BBQ'ed steaks. Quite long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Remains suprisingly fresh, with aged characteristics. Very slight browning around edges. Mature cherry, black pepper, savoury earhy flavours. Clean and fresh for age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bit tired, bit one-dimensional, bit, ahh, well, old. This should probably have been quaffed about 3 years ago (all my own fault, guilty as charged), it's faded considerably to what would have been it's youth. Through my untrustworthy nose I get green over black peppercorn, black fruit (in the distance), vanilla and touches of dustiness. In the mouth it's, well, 'wet' and spicy, as per the nose pepper, accompanied by some tiny black fruit, cream and vanilla. medium finish at best.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sweaty saddle after 3 hour decanter - This is not supposed to be a Hunter Valley Shiraz! It only opened up slightly on drinking, did not show much but it was OK
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red color. Nose of plum, black cherry, blackberry, pepper, cinnamon, and cocoa. Berries on the palate. Firm tannins, good acidity. Cherry and cassis on the finish. Good, but lacking complexity. Finish was also a bit thin.
87/88
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fine Shiraz from reliable producer. Nose with dark berries, chocolate, vanilla. Taste with silky tanins and medium body. Fruity both subtle in a sophisticated way. Dark colour and nice warm finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice, remarkably balanced Aussie Shiraz proviing they do not have to be fruit bombs, this one was elegant, smooth and really good - Dark purple, well concentrated with notes of plum, cherry, spice, pepper and vanilla accents on the nose, very well structured, feminine with smooth tannins on the palate and a long finish (90 Points).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A consistent performer. Black/red in color. Black cherry with rather heavy raspberry/rhubarb on a background of leather/cigar box/tobacco. A creamy but clean texture leading to a lingering finish of pine forest and red fruit. Pleasant, but a bit out of balance with the rather heavy red fruit. Drink soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted September 3, 2006 at home as part of the Wino Depot Tasting With Friends for September event. Opened and splash decanted before serving immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glass. Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, fairly clear throughout. Nose of cassis, dried herbs, leather and saddle soap with a dash of white pepper. Flavors of red cherries, red berries, raspberries and a little cherry sweet tarts on the finish. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink now with an hour in the decanter or let it sit in the cellar for a few years before trying again. Based on the local retail price of $19.99 I paid I’d say the value here is between acceptable and agreeable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Menthol, spicy white pepper, dark fruit. Big tannins and a lingering finish on quite the powerful wine. These bin wines from Penfold's are pretty remarkable for the price. There is a lot of heft to these guys.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Man, this wine is big, even hours after opening it.big and tasty, with dark fruits and mint. I'm sure this has a few years ahead of it. And a really great price, as are most of Penfold's bin series.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted at Penfolds Cellar Door: Deep puple in colour this Coonawarra Shiraz has plumy, fruity notes. It is matured in French oak for 12 months which contributes to its significant oak characters along with a deep earthy, peppery taste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/16/2020 - rmarkey Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent. Superb wine, quite different to Kalimna of same age; finer and less full on palate. 14% alc. though not really evident given balance with acid.
Colour: vibrant black currant
Bouquet: black currant, leather, cedar
Palate: rich and full bodied, blackberries, plums, spice and black pepper, black olives and licorice. Opens out beautifully over 3 hours. Fresh, long clean finish with some green herbal undertones.
May 2020
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2019 - rmarkey Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent, 14% alc. Drinking beautifully. Had the Kalimna the previous evening, same vintage, and the comparison is interesting. Previously, I suggested it was 'so different to the Bin 28 Kalimna from this same year: More subtle and less full bodied.' It's amazingly balanced and with breathing it becomes amazingly concentrated. It's a far more elegant wine than the Kalimna.
Very similar comments to April 2018.
Colour: deep black berry, crimson edges
Bouquet: blackberries and other black fruits, cherries, olives, and a touch of mint, but more secondary characters, leather, dark chocolate, dusty, light spice, cereal
Palate: as bouquet, blueberry, liquorice, briary, savoury earthy characters, black pepper, big soft fine grained tannins, full bodied but very balanced, great mouthfeel, long clean finish. Elegant, and palate has balance of primary fruit and secondary characters. Gorgeous and still has years.
June 2019
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2018 - rmarkey Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent, so different to the Bin 28 Kalimna from this year. More subtle and less full bodied. Drinking beautifully. 14% alc.
Colour: deep black berry, crimson edges
Bouquet: blackberries and other black fruits, cherries, olives, and a touch of mint, but more secondary characters, leather, dark chocolate, dusty, light spice
Palate: as bouquet, liquorice, briary, savoury earthy characters, black pepper, big soft tannins, full bodied but very balanced, great mouthfeel, long clean finish. Elegant, and palate has balance of primary fruit and secondary characters.
April 2018
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2014 - DavoSwirlsSniffsQuaffs Likes this wine: 93 Points
A great value drop. The ageing has done it justice. Nice bouquet and such pleasant drinking! Rich chocolate and spice notes. I only wish I had another left to drink!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/2014 - Cellar Bear wrote:
Well developed Coonawarra Shiraz which is still drinking well but starting to show some of the early signs of decline. Drink up now!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2014 - JerM wrote: 91 Points
(Justina's B'day!) Rich dark plums, ash and leather. velvet tannins, juicy dark fruit (mulberry) with some classic barnyard. A well developed aussie shiraz - almost textbook.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
12/15/2012 - Rayden wrote: 91 Points
A full-on Coonawarra Shiraz. A pleasure to drink and enjoyed by all. Some age coming through, still plenty of fruit with nice length but not much nose. Nothing shabby with this 10 yr old baby
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2012 - madflyfisher wrote:
Another dinner with huge BBQ'ed rib-eye steaks sent me to the basement in search for some "kapow". As always, my wife tested the wine blind. Managed to fool her into thinking this was a Northern Rhone..... Anyway, it isn't and the ripe fruitiness, also made her change her mind later in the guessing game. Dark (!) in the glass. On the nose lush, ripe dark berries with some "mineral tightness" (in lack of a better word). I can understand why my wife initially was guessing for Northern Rhone. The palate did reflect the nose to a large extent, and the fruit caracteristics combined with rather solid tannins made this a decent wine for BBQ'ed steaks. Quite long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2011 - fullpour wrote:
Kirsch nose, some browning, past its peak but not undrinkable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2011 - nieuwoudt Does not like this wine: 85 Points
well past peak. quite simple.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2011 - Majp wrote: 87 Points
Remains suprisingly fresh, with aged characteristics. Very slight browning around edges. Mature cherry, black pepper, savoury earhy flavours. Clean and fresh for age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2011 - chatters wrote:
Bit tired, bit one-dimensional, bit, ahh, well, old. This should probably have been quaffed about 3 years ago (all my own fault, guilty as charged), it's faded considerably to what would have been it's youth. Through my untrustworthy nose I get green over black peppercorn, black fruit (in the distance), vanilla and touches of dustiness. In the mouth it's, well, 'wet' and spicy, as per the nose pepper, accompanied by some tiny black fruit, cream and vanilla. medium finish at best.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2011 - kkessler wrote: 87 Points
Fruit pretty much gone. Leather and tobacco is all that is left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2010 - DT7474 wrote: 91 Points
Another favourite from Penfolds, well balanced and a pleasure to drink, glad I have 5 more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2009 - Outwide wrote: 82 Points
Sweaty saddle after 3 hour decanter - This is not supposed to be a Hunter Valley Shiraz! It only opened up slightly on drinking, did not show much but it was OK
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2009 - ksmith wrote: 85 Points
Raisiiny, overripe plum. heat on the finish. am recognizing that this os just not my style
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2009 - behm0027 wrote: 87 Points
Dark red color. Nose of plum, black cherry, blackberry, pepper, cinnamon, and cocoa. Berries on the palate. Firm tannins, good acidity. Cherry and cassis on the finish. Good, but lacking complexity. Finish was also a bit thin.
87/88
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2008 - magnus_dahlbeck wrote: 90 Points
Fine Shiraz from reliable producer. Nose with dark berries, chocolate, vanilla. Taste with silky tanins and medium body. Fruity both subtle in a sophisticated way. Dark colour and nice warm finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2008 - Tarrant wrote: 90 Points
Very nice, remarkably balanced Aussie Shiraz proviing they do not have to be fruit bombs, this one was elegant, smooth and really good - Dark purple, well concentrated with notes of plum, cherry, spice, pepper and vanilla accents on the nose, very well structured, feminine with smooth tannins on the palate and a long finish (90 Points).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/30/2008 - Jan Schultink wrote: 89 Points
A consistent performer. Black/red in color. Black cherry with rather heavy raspberry/rhubarb on a background of leather/cigar box/tobacco. A creamy but clean texture leading to a lingering finish of pine forest and red fruit. Pleasant, but a bit out of balance with the rather heavy red fruit. Drink soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2007 - drend wrote: 88 Points
So-so but definately not a Novy
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2007 - dhw wrote: 92 Points
Started out great and got better as the night progressed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2006 - pepper wrote: 89 Points
Bright and juicy, with a nice balance of dark berry fruit and mintiness. A very enjoyable wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2006 - wineismylife wrote: 88 Points
WIML88,PURPLE88,WA87,WS88
Tasted September 3, 2006 at home as part of the Wino Depot Tasting With Friends for September event. Opened and splash decanted before serving immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glass. Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, fairly clear throughout. Nose of cassis, dried herbs, leather and saddle soap with a dash of white pepper. Flavors of red cherries, red berries, raspberries and a little cherry sweet tarts on the finish. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink now with an hour in the decanter or let it sit in the cellar for a few years before trying again. Based on the local retail price of $19.99 I paid I’d say the value here is between acceptable and agreeable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2006 - hutch wrote:
Menthol, spicy white pepper, dark fruit. Big tannins and a lingering finish on quite the powerful wine. These bin wines from Penfold's are pretty remarkable for the price. There is a lot of heft to these guys.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2006 - jantonecchia wrote: 89 Points
had this bottle with rack of lamb...perfectly matched
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2006 - slippytoad wrote: 92 Points
This bottle was especially good compared to previous ones. Leathery, plummy, earthy and structured.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/26/2006 - jantonecchia wrote: 89 Points
Very nice! Plums with a hint of earth and a fairly long finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2006 - cah1162 wrote: 89 Points
A favorite of mine that never disappoints. Nicely structured. Good value. Mellows with airing, but good out of the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2005 - hutch wrote: 90 Points
Man, this wine is big, even hours after opening it.big and tasty, with dark fruits and mint. I'm sure this has a few years ahead of it. And a really great price, as are most of Penfold's bin series.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2005 - jamieirving wrote: 89 Points
Tasted at Penfolds Cellar Door: Deep puple in colour this Coonawarra Shiraz has plumy, fruity notes. It is matured in French oak for 12 months which contributes to its significant oak characters along with a deep earthy, peppery taste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment