Dark, saturated blackish red color, just a touch of bricking at the edge. On the nose the typical sweet smell of Shiraz, quite powerful, a one-tone-note which has a certain allure... On the palate a bit mono-chromatic; also: the wine borders the jammy side. It is sweeter than it used to be and I think that Penfolds fell for the "allure" of early 2000's fashion: over-concentrating the fruit and placing an emphasis on ripeness and sweetness . This was border-line for me; my wife quite enjoyed it. I think that, lamentably, with Penfolds going over to the other side, another bastion of conservative wine-making, driving for elegance rather than power, has fallen. Such a pity....
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Consumed for enjoyment only over dinner, no formal notes. This was cellared by me professionally from release. Purchased from Dan Murphy in Payneham for a marvellous $16.90/bottle or thereabout. Drinking very nicely. I don't see a lot more in the future, but no rush to drink.
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We opened a mini-vertical of this 2003 and also the 2010 vintages of the Bin 28. If anything, the 2003 seemed more youthful, deep and dark in color with lovely spiced blackberries and sweet smoke. Very, very good.
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Unmistakably a nice bottle of Aussie shiraz! Still very dark in colour! Caramel fruity nose! Rustic fruits on the palate! A correct bottle of wine! Just a little boring! Perhaps pair it with a big piece of grilled steak will enhance your pleasure!
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Coffee, developed fruit and spice nose, drying fruit with good blackcurrant and coffee flavours. Fruit is starting to fade but is has good mid palate although the finish is a little short and has a hint of alcoholic hotness. Unlikely to improve but may hold for a few more years.
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Decanted for approx one hour prior to drinking. Good balance and complexity, with fabulous mid-palate. Tannins are starting to fade. Strong blackcurrant overtones with obvious dusty notes and fading pepper on the finish. Should continue to drink well for next 2-3 years, but unlikely I think to improve on where it is now. Partnered with slow roast lamb.
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Dark crimson red and cola color, strong alcohol with a hint of aniseed on the nose, benefits from decanting, palate is fruit forward with a bit of chocolate and cocoa. Decent finish with some pepper. Good value, holding up well.
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Poured and waited 10 minutes. No alchohol heat, nice fruit. 20 minutes later, a little peppery finish on the palate, with the same nice fruit to start with. Drinking very well now. Paired with veal leg roast and a shakshuka.
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90, whatever. Nice bottle. Dry without being over done. Smooth, a little "meaty". Penfolds has outstanding values in this price range. Don't see the need for holding, but it might be interesting to see what happens.
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Temperature seemed to change the character quickly. Opened it right out of the cellar and when too cold was overrun with spice and tannin. Afew minutes on the table and the fruit opened up and the palate smoothed out to a smooth finish.
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Spice and oaky notes on opening. Consumed over an hour or so. Tastes have muted, with some stone fruit, and a soft finish that fades fast. Drink it now, its hit its peak and ready to start fading.
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Not sure if I was drinking the same wine as everybody else ( given the notes ) but on first tasting this was green , loads of heat and tannic . I didn't decant but left open for a day and on day 2 it was much more approachable - smoother with plenty of fruit but still hot .
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We think this wine has reached its peak. As for all the aged Bin 28's, they are velvet smooth coming out if the bottle and then quickly fade. Open with guests and finish within the first hour. We love the cherry at the start of this wine. As others have said, the taste changes as it oxidizes.
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Darker yet clean Shiraz with violet, watery edges. Predominant peppery nose, simplistic side. Oaky oaky. First sniff was the best one. Monolitic on the palate, simple and alcoholic. Ready but boring bottle. Matched with a swordfish fillet.
Shiraz obscuro pero limpio con bordes violaceos, acuosos. Nariz predominantemente a pimienta pero simple. Muy amaderada. La primera esnifada fue la mejor. En boca monolítico, simple y alcohólico. Botella lista pero aburrida. Maridada con un filete de pez espada.
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Good – clear dark ruby appearance; dark fruit and some oakiness on nose; off-dry; mid acidity; high tannins; full body; quite alcoholic; mid length fruity finish; overall a bit tannic; dark fruit; vanilla; oak; double decanted through a vinturi but drank straight away.
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I didn't know what to make of this, the nose was initially quite expressive and with dark fruit but whatever was in the initial taste closed down very quickly. For about an hour or so seemed very closed and couldn't really taste much, then some interesting velvety chocolate and syrup notes started. Don't know enough about this wine to judge whether it was partly oxidized or not but I was surprised by the lack of flavour for what many on the forum seem to characterize as a big wine. 86 reflects this reticence.
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Popped. decanted and aerated. Deep ruby with a hint of beginning garnet, clear. Tight nose. Deep, black, lush fruit, blackberry, oak, vanilla, sweet spice. Palate the same except oak is pronounced. Very full bodied, weighty, high alcohol, big wine, pair accordingly.
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Mid brick red colour, looking a little advanced but there is still some purple flecks. The nose shows spicy red fruit with vanilla and plum. The palate grows more expressive with air, there is plenty of weight and tannin still. Plum, christmas pudding, oak. Pretty good, a little dumb right now?
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The spice / earthiness was just too overpowering covering up the fruit. I found the first hit on the palate overly aggressive. There was also a funkiness mid palate that made me think that the bottle may be corked and perhaps it was. The "corkiness" went away after about an hour of the bottle being opened. I generally like this producer and I have no notes on my past bottles which tells me I liked it then. So, this bottle is a mystery.
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Popped and poured. Deep, crimson hue. Nice aromas of black cherry, black olives, mocha, and spice. Medium-plus body. On the palate, this particular bottle was showing the usual core of dark fruits and game but also possessed a pronounced flavor of crushed black peppercorns, quite reminiscent of a Syrah from Crozes-Hermitage or perhaps Cornas. However, the subtle notes of eucalyptus, coconut, and vanilla from oak dispel any further comparison to the Northern Rhone. Tannins are a bit chewy and astringent on the moderate-plus finish. Interesting to follow the evolution of this one (and Penfolds in general). Should certainly age well for many more years.
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No formal tasting notes but tasting better after sitting on this last bottle a year. The wine still needs some time to breath after opening but the fruit was showing nicely. Still quite a bit of pepper though.
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Purplish hue to brick red in color. Christmas pudding, plums and cherry on the nose. Plummy, berried fruits with chocolate, mocha and spice on the palate. Ripe, robust and generously flavored with no new oak. Ripe tannins and balanced acidity.
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This wine is getting MUCH better with age. Not nearly as astringent and the flavor is really popping. Lots of fruit with a earthy spice that is just perfect for me.
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Fruity and well balanced. Nose is bright with dark berries (blackberries) predominating. Secondary notes of spice and earthiness, finish is short. No need to cellar any longer, drink now.
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Consistent color and nose to previous tastings, but the vibrant fruit had missed a step. This is coming down off peak, so if you have some, recommend you drink up. This was the last of my half case, and was not as good as the last bottle.
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Liked this wine quite a bit. Color was fading just a small amount, but fruit was intact and had a medium finish with smoke and earth. Sediment like someone was throwing it in during the bottling by the handful.
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A little better than the last bottle, but still good as opposed to great. Showing some lovely blackcurrant and cedar wood characters, but overall perhaps a little unbalanced.
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2003 wasn't a particularly outstanding vintage, and I think this wine is reflective. Good, but not great. Deep purple in the glass, this Shiraz shows blackcurrant, cedar wood and tar characters on the nose. The palate shows dried plum, pencil shavings and slightly unbalanced tannins.
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Not as good as I'd hoped. Good fruit and spice, but not really balanced, and not exciting. Lots of sediment. Perhaps decanting would have improved this.
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Wow!! Deep garnet color. Muted peppery nose [or maybe I have been stuffed up for the last few wines?], then a great mix of fruit & spices with a sweetish black-tea finish. Ready to go. Awesome QPR.
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Opaque black plum colour, with a bit of reddish-violet around the edge. Smoky, spicy bold nose, with black fruit.
Powerful. Almost gamey-meaty, and quite woody on the attack. Big, drying tannins and a good amount of oak, but both are quite smooth. The fruit in this might be a little past its prime; I get it mostly on the mid-palate, and it's a bit subdued - plum, black cherry, a little blackberry jam. Same with the acidity - I'd like a little more, and it mostly hits on mid-palate and finish, which is almost zesty, as well as quite peppery.
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Dark inky purple. Dark rich coffee/moca with vanilla/scotch on the nose. The flavors are dark IHOP Berry Syrup. This bottle seemed less dry and more sweet than the last we had in this batch. Not complex, but a great bottle to share over Pizza, ribs, or Choco sundae!
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Popped and allowed 4 hours in bottle to breathe before pouring. Deep, almost inky hue. Initially the aromas were slightly muted, offering only hints of black fruits and cocoa powder. This prompted me to leave it alone for another 60 minutes. In that time, this Shiraz (made by this iconic Australian winery with grapes from a renowned single vineyard) finally opened up, the nose revealing a beautiful aromatic profile of black cherries, cherry cordials, toffee, dill, and assorted herbs (including mint and eucalyptus). Medium-plus body. The palate really explodes with wonderful flavors of ripe cherries, tobacco, nori, roasted herbs, and stones (maybe like a St. Joseph aged in American oak?). Medium length finish with grainy tannins. Could age easily for 10 more years. If you open this now be sure to give it lots of air!
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Opened dumped into the decanter for about 5 minutes and poured in the glass. A dark purple with some setiment when put into the glass. Taste was not overly complex but a decent wine that shows the standard characteristics of a shiraz/syrah. A little spicyness and mild tannins, not at all hot. I drank it with spaghetti so it did not seem overly tart but probably could have benefited from more time in the decanter.
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Dark Purple. Deep rich Shiraz with all the right stuff. A couple of years in the bottle really released some classic mouthfeel and flavor from this bottle. Will try to keep at least one more for the holidays. Very tasty stuff!!!
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vaaccess said it perfectly. Additionally, I enjoyed the 01 quite a bit more than the 03. Perhaps this one just needs some more time in the bottle but it took nearly 2 hours for it to start softening/opening up. Fair amount of tartrate crystals on the cork and a good bit of sediment in the decanter. Beautiful muted purple color to the wine to match the nearly black cork.
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Popped and poured. Deep red-purple. Aromas of black cherry, roasted meats, olive tapenade.......and a touch of coconut. Aromatically I would say this is more similar to a Northern Rhone than the typical Penfolds Bin Series Shiraz. Medium-plus in mouth, the flavors were initially quite tight with little fruit showing over the chewy tannins. However, after about 3 hours of air this Shiraz transforms into a very nice drink, the red and black fruits showing very well over savory notes of game. A touch of green extends on the oak-filled close. Should improve with mid-term cellaring. Not sure if this wine is worth $20+ but at $11.95 it makes a very nice QPR selection.
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Dark red colour. Much more savoury than most Aussie shiraz's. Drank really well on the 2nd night. I wasn't expecting much (given the vintage) so this was a pleasent surprise.... Great value for money.
Drink 2010-2015
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Dark inky red color. Ripe strawberries, raspberry and cherries on the nose with just a slight hint of fuel kerosene like funk. Ripe strawberries on the mouth firm tannin, decent mouth-feel with a slightly green finish. Good solid Shiraz would buy again.
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This one still needs more time in bottle. It is drinkable now but it can only benefit from further aging. Lot's or berries and some pepper on the nose. Not much fruit on the palate though, at least not at first. The pepper dominated the wine. Drank this one over a four hour period and that last hour was by far the best when the fruit finally had a chance to shine.
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I wanted to let this sit a little longer but am running out of space and need my cellar for newer vintages. I knew this was a winner as soon as I poured it. Inviting fruity smells came out of the glass, 1 hour in-glass decant. just a few crystals on the cork, juice was clear on the first pour but sediment at the bottom on the last pour of the bottle-should have filtered. This is a quality wine vs. the $8 to $10 Shiraz disappointments I have tried recently. My first try of Penfolds and impressed.
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Opened and decanted about 10 minutes after getting home from UPS.
Beautiful dark garnet color.
Poured the bottle into the decanter and immediately poured myself a small taste. A nice peppery blackberry aroma and a fruit explosion on first taste! It lingers and fades to a spicy finish.
As it sat in the decanter, the aromas rounded off and more of the leather came out. A nice velvety mouth feel after about 45 minutes and still fruity bang and balanced spicy finish.
I can't wait to see how these taste after they settle.
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Decanted for 1 hour. Deep garnet, medium bodied wine. Nice bouquet of dark fruits, palate of the same, nice acidity, medium tannins, medium-long finish. Better after being open a few hours. Would hold other bottles for awhile, or decant at least for two hours. Excellent sipper, also went well with barbecued chicken.
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The pork steaks are on the Barbie, actually it’s a smoker I wont be able to give it a full smoke tonight but it should be a good match for this wine.
Color: Beautiful deep Garnet if you hold it over a light it refracts just like the gemstone all while still turning my teeth purple.
I love the nose on this wine, it keeps changing as it opens up. It started with blackberries, pepper and a little flower smell. I cant quite place it so, flowers. Now I get more perfume, kind of musky and fruity at the same time.
This wine is so good, I think I will gift myself a couple more. It starts out really good and just gets better.
I get plums and a bit of acidity and the tannins aren’t the knock you on your ass stuff. It’s a smooth mouthfeel with just the right finish. Kinda like holding OJ in your mouth but better. Acidity, fruit, and a slight bitterness yet, very smooth. You know the flavor that’s left after you eat the Amano chocolate? This is kinda like that. This is a very drinkable wine with or without food.
I gave a glass to my son but, unfortunately he has a very bad head cold and cant enjoy this wine like it needs to be. Poor thing all he gets is the finish, which is very nice but he’s missing the rest.
If you like a big fruit forward wine then you will Love this.
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It didn't work out between us. It started with syrah spices on the nose. It was promising, but then it got matted and blured and dense. A lot of thickness but no clarity at all. After two glasses I felt like I swallowed a brick. C'est la vin.
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Popped and poured and when I walked back into the room there was a strong aromour of blackberries. Deep dark purple colour. Meat and leather on the nose in glass. Palate is a little tight and dry, with a small flat spot, a hint of spice and white pepper on the finish but still quite full and soft. Good long finish.
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Deep dark purple in colour this Shiraz shows how well Australia can make Hermitage. The nose shows an abundance of ripe cherries and plums, vanilla and a hint of white pepper. The palate shows rich fruit characters and a hint of spice. Soft, supple tannins and great balance.
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Very dark purple color. Aromatic nose of berries, pepper and flowers, as well as leather. On the palate, it is dry, very full-bodied with lively acidity, and tannins that are powerful but have softened up quite a bit since my last in 9/2006. This wine is a spicy, fruity explosion of flavor. Black cherries, plums, blackberry, leather, layers of flavors, black pepper, a dry plum and spice finish. Good length...20-30 seconds. This wine has progressed nicely in the cellar. pairs well with dark and/or spicy meats. It is drinking very well now and should continue to do so for a year or two, perhaps longer.
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Blackberry, pepper and plum on the nose with some leathery overtones. Spices overwhelm the palate, yet this bottle achieved some balance between the fruit and tannins. Residue in the glass approaches that of an unfined wine, while the finish is of moderate length and hot. Definately more body for the Aussie equivalent of a Beringer, and heavier than the Bin 128 Coonawarra last month. I liked this bottle, but only to buy and enjoy, not for long term cellaring.
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This deep purple shiraz really shows the lighter side of Barossa fruit. The nose shows ripe red fruit and a hint of vanilla. The palate shows ripe plum and a hint of tobacco. Velvety tannins and good length. Very nice!
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Deep purple in colour Bin 28 expresses more of the fruit characters of Australian Shiraz, without relying on new oak or alcohol. Made from 100% Shiraz grapes sourced from the Mclaren Vale, Langhorne Creek and the Barossa Valley Bin 28 is aged in old American oak barrels. The nose shows cherry aromas and (seasonally) Christmas pudding. The palate is plummy with good berry fruits and a hint of spice. Drinking well now, but should improve a little more.
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Deep ruby red in colour this Shiraz is exceptionally fruit driven. The nose shows red fruit and vanilla characters. The palate is dry with jammy dark fruits and cigar box. Velvety tannins and good length.
Tasted in the Grand Tasting at the 10th Decanter Fine Wine Encounter, Landmark Hotel, London.
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Cork closure, tasted in Riedel vinum Syrah glass with no decanting.
Eye: Dense somewhat dull purple, showing no age at the rim.
Nose: Somewhat pungent on opening, this blew off leaving the nose majoring on typical blackberries and plums together with white pepper. There was just a touch of 'cheap' confection about the fruit on the nose. There is relatively subtle but still prominent oak influence.
Palate: Quite different to previous bin28's I've had. Although there's good breadth to the palate, it's initially sweet fruit moves swiftly towards more savoury/peppery and falls away on the finish too quickly. Tannins are firm enough but far from oppressive and the fruit at this stage is more than a match for it. Acidity is ok at this stage in it's life, but might be a bit on the light side for anything but short-term ageing (3-5 years). There's a slightly bitter, almost salty edge to the wine, edging the savouriness towards sourness and this doesn't do much for me.
Overall impression: For me, quite a big disappointment. I've found this a good-value label in previous years, but this (hot vintage) wine just isn't impressing me. The finish is woefully short and it feels quite disjointed. As Michelle said, enjoyable as a £6-8 table wine, but poor at it's standard £10-11 price.
I suspect the 2002 will show much better (cooler year) so will be very keen to see what others nake of this wine and the previous vintage.
<< 2 days later - having decanted to a half bottle & re-stoppered immediately >> Quite a subtle nose of sweet blackberries and pepper. Still good strength to the fruit, perhaps it's even showing stronger tonight, albeit with a slightly syrupy taste. In doing so, this helps reduce the disjointedness noticed on the 1st night, though it's still there. The same finish is noted (someone suggested a better descriptor - Soy Sauce, which I think is much more appropriate) and perhaps there's a hint of caramel now. I think the extra air time has helped this wine a little, but it's still not a good example of the label.
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Tasted at a fundraiser tasting in Burnsville, MN. Deep, dark color of purple/red to ruby. Clear center to rim. Aromatic youthful, but not-ultra-young nose of cherry, berry and pepper. Dray, full-bodied. lively acidity, medium-high astringent tannins. This is a powerful wine of cherry, berry, pepper, complexity and yet does all of this very smoothly. Long 20 second finish. Ordered some of this one after the tasting.
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NobleRottersSydney - Fosters new releases (Guillaume at Bennelong): {cork, 14.5%, A$24} The Bin 28 is in some ways even more disappointing! [than the Bin 128] The nose is of ripe, yet highly stressed fruit. Blackberry & oak fight it out. The palate is big in size, yet hollow, and precedes a short harsh finish. I know it’s young, but it seems to me to lack the stuffing and/or innate quality to age well in future.
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8/25/2023 - PapaCheese Likes this wine: 95 Points
20 years young. Rich berry colour and flavour. Clean cork, easily pulled. Delicious.
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11/9/2022 - PapaCheese Likes this wine:
Nearly 20 years old, and delicious.
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4/1/2022 - Loft wrote:
Still drinking great. Plenty of life in the old girl still!
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12/25/2021 - PaulDon Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still strong and good complexity
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6/14/2020 - stevedc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Super soft, great fruit, peppery notes. Superb shiraz, is not getting any better but holding strong for its age.
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2/27/2020 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Purple color. Saturated black currant flavors with cedar and clove spice.
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12/26/2019 - bhague Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still drinking well
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2/2/2019 - Bandreas wrote:
Dark, saturated blackish red color, just a touch of bricking at the edge.
On the nose the typical sweet smell of Shiraz, quite powerful, a one-tone-note which has a certain allure...
On the palate a bit mono-chromatic; also: the wine borders the jammy side. It is sweeter than it used to be and I think that Penfolds fell for the "allure" of early 2000's fashion: over-concentrating the fruit and placing an emphasis on ripeness and sweetness .
This was border-line for me; my wife quite enjoyed it. I think that, lamentably, with Penfolds going over to the other side, another bastion of conservative wine-making, driving for elegance rather than power, has fallen.
Such a pity....
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10/13/2017 - empire80 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Last bottle. Sweet spicy fruit, good length, typical Penfolds longevity, great stuff, despite relatively poor vintage.
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8/22/2017 - sjw_11 Likes this wine:
Consumed for enjoyment only over dinner, no formal notes. This was cellared by me professionally from release. Purchased from Dan Murphy in Payneham for a marvellous $16.90/bottle or thereabout. Drinking very nicely. I don't see a lot more in the future, but no rush to drink.
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10/1/2016 - empire80 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very pleasurable mature bin 28.
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4/9/2016 - IlonaN wrote: 90 Points
We opened a mini-vertical of this 2003 and also the 2010 vintages of the Bin 28. If anything, the 2003 seemed more youthful, deep and dark in color with lovely spiced blackberries and sweet smoke. Very, very good.
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3/31/2016 - Tao wrote: 89 Points
Unmistakably a nice bottle of Aussie shiraz! Still very dark in colour! Caramel fruity nose! Rustic fruits on the palate! A correct bottle of wine! Just a little boring! Perhaps pair it with a big piece of grilled steak will enhance your pleasure!
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1/3/2016 - GregK59 wrote: 89 Points
Coffee, developed fruit and spice nose, drying fruit with good blackcurrant and coffee flavours. Fruit is starting to fade but is has good mid palate although the finish is a little short and has a hint of alcoholic hotness. Unlikely to improve but may hold for a few more years.
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12/18/2015 - Southern Wine Buff Likes this wine: 86 Points
Decanted for approx one hour prior to drinking. Good balance and complexity, with fabulous mid-palate. Tannins are starting to fade. Strong blackcurrant overtones with obvious dusty notes and fading pepper on the finish. Should continue to drink well for next 2-3 years, but unlikely I think to improve on where it is now. Partnered with slow roast lamb.
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12/12/2014 - apm1971 wrote:
Drink now to 2013 - Penfolds 2008
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5/2/2014 - guy12 wrote: 84 Points
Still a bit tight, should have decanted first. Some nice aged notes starting to come through
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2/9/2014 - Simplicious wrote: 84 Points
Dark crimson red and cola color, strong alcohol with a hint of aniseed on the nose, benefits from decanting, palate is fruit forward with a bit of chocolate and cocoa. Decent finish with some pepper. Good value, holding up well.
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4/19/2013 - notudden wrote: 91 Points
Smooth, mellow taste. Great!
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3/31/2013 - mike808 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Poured and waited 10 minutes. No alchohol heat, nice fruit.
20 minutes later, a little peppery finish on the palate, with the same nice fruit to start with. Drinking very well now. Paired with veal leg roast and a shakshuka.
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1/31/2013 - John Nezlek wrote: 89 Points
90, whatever. Nice bottle. Dry without being over done. Smooth, a little "meaty". Penfolds has outstanding values in this price range. Don't see the need for holding, but it might be interesting to see what happens.
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12/31/2012 - notudden wrote: 90 Points
Öppnade direkt för att dricka. Vältempererad! Fantastisk! Med ren ytterfile, jordärtskockspure och rödvinsås kom vinet väl till sin rätt.
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12/26/2012 - notudden Likes this wine: 84 Points
Smakar bra med älgstek, gräddsås och gelé. Men bör drickas i närtid! Har passerat sin zenit, men är ännu klart drickbar.
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12/22/2012 - *Vine* wrote: flawed
Corked.
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12/8/2012 - askmrwizard wrote: 87 Points
Temperature seemed to change the character quickly. Opened it right out of the cellar and when too cold was overrun with spice and tannin. Afew minutes on the table and the fruit opened up and the palate smoothed out to a smooth finish.
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10/2/2012 - Wicked Panda Likes this wine: 87 Points
Spice and oaky notes on opening. Consumed over an hour or so. Tastes have muted, with some stone fruit, and a soft finish that fades fast. Drink it now, its hit its peak and ready to start fading.
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9/9/2012 - sphBacchus wrote: 84 Points
Not sure if I was drinking the same wine as everybody else ( given the notes ) but on first tasting this was green , loads of heat and tannic . I didn't decant but left open for a day and on day 2 it was much more approachable - smoother with plenty of fruit but still hot .
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4/4/2012 - blindfold7 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Really enjoyed great rates of cherry and drank immediately as others suggested.
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3/3/2012 - Btkerr wrote: 90 Points
We think this wine has reached its peak. As for all the aged Bin 28's, they are velvet smooth coming out if the bottle and then quickly fade. Open with guests and finish within the first hour. We love the cherry at the start of this wine. As others have said, the taste changes as it oxidizes.
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2/10/2012 - marcqui wrote: 89 Points
Initially great but need to drink early. Probably don't decant.
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2/4/2012 - Harley1199 wrote:
Darker yet clean Shiraz with violet, watery edges.
Predominant peppery nose, simplistic side. Oaky oaky. First sniff was the best one.
Monolitic on the palate, simple and alcoholic. Ready but boring bottle.
Matched with a swordfish fillet.
Shiraz obscuro pero limpio con bordes violaceos, acuosos.
Nariz predominantemente a pimienta pero simple. Muy amaderada. La primera esnifada fue la mejor.
En boca monolítico, simple y alcohólico. Botella lista pero aburrida.
Maridada con un filete de pez espada.
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9/10/2011 - HStaal wrote: 87 Points
Good – clear dark ruby appearance; dark fruit and some oakiness on nose; off-dry; mid acidity; high tannins; full body; quite alcoholic; mid length fruity finish; overall a bit tannic; dark fruit; vanilla; oak; double decanted through a vinturi but drank straight away.
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8/31/2011 - Lord of the Bottles wrote: 86 Points
I didn't know what to make of this, the nose was initially quite expressive and with dark fruit but whatever was in the initial taste closed down very quickly. For about an hour or so seemed very closed and couldn't really taste much, then some interesting velvety chocolate and syrup notes started. Don't know enough about this wine to judge whether it was partly oxidized or not but I was surprised by the lack of flavour for what many on the forum seem to characterize as a big wine. 86 reflects this reticence.
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3/1/2011 - Krugsters wrote:
Popped. decanted and aerated. Deep ruby with a hint of beginning garnet, clear. Tight nose. Deep, black, lush fruit, blackberry, oak, vanilla, sweet spice. Palate the same except oak is pronounced. Very full bodied, weighty, high alcohol, big wine, pair accordingly.
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1/5/2011 - WillT wrote: 83 Points
Nice bouquet, but that's about it.
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12/17/2010 - sjw_11 wrote: 88 Points
Mid brick red colour, looking a little advanced but there is still some purple flecks. The nose shows spicy red fruit with vanilla and plum. The palate grows more expressive with air, there is plenty of weight and tannin still. Plum, christmas pudding, oak. Pretty good, a little dumb right now?
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11/25/2010 - tantal wrote: 90 Points
aged well. just a touch of harsh finish, otherwise a lovely, big Shiraz
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11/21/2010 - xsnrg Likes this wine: 91 Points
deep rich purple, solid plum and cranberry fruit and a pleasant smooth finish
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9/24/2010 - trefoil wrote: 87 Points
Nose of cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper. Quite dry, but not tannic; fairly muted palate it seemed to me.
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8/8/2010 - duncanmacster wrote: 82 Points
Penfold's Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz. I think I need say no more.
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4/18/2010 - avwineguy wrote: 76 Points
The spice / earthiness was just too overpowering covering up the fruit. I found the first hit on the palate overly aggressive. There was also a funkiness mid palate that made me think that the bottle may be corked and perhaps it was. The "corkiness" went away after about an hour of the bottle being opened. I generally like this producer and I have no notes on my past bottles which tells me I liked it then. So, this bottle is a mystery.
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2/12/2010 - *Vine* wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured. Deep, crimson hue. Nice aromas of black cherry, black olives, mocha, and spice. Medium-plus body. On the palate, this particular bottle was showing the usual core of dark fruits and game but also possessed a pronounced flavor of crushed black peppercorns, quite reminiscent of a Syrah from Crozes-Hermitage or perhaps Cornas. However, the subtle notes of eucalyptus, coconut, and vanilla from oak dispel any further comparison to the Northern Rhone. Tannins are a bit chewy and astringent on the moderate-plus finish.
Interesting to follow the evolution of this one (and Penfolds in general). Should certainly age well for many more years.
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2/3/2010 - joefouche wrote: 89 Points
Nice one to have on hand. Really enjoyable.
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10/26/2009 - joefouche wrote: 90 Points
Continue to be impressed. Deep and spicy but with a good amount of fruit. Maybe not as sweet as the last round. Still, want to buy more.
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10/23/2009 - javadrinker wrote: 89 Points
No formal tasting notes but tasting better after sitting on this last bottle a year. The wine still needs some time to breath after opening but the fruit was showing nicely. Still quite a bit of pepper though.
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10/17/2009 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 90 Points
Purplish hue to brick red in color. Christmas pudding, plums and cherry on the nose. Plummy, berried fruits with chocolate, mocha and spice on the palate. Ripe, robust and generously flavored with no new oak. Ripe tannins and balanced acidity.
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9/29/2009 - vaaccess wrote: 89 Points
This wine is getting MUCH better with age. Not nearly as astringent and the flavor is really popping. Lots of fruit with a earthy spice that is just perfect for me.
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8/16/2009 - Fozziedoggie wrote: 88 Points
Fruity and well balanced. Nose is bright with dark berries (blackberries) predominating. Secondary notes of spice and earthiness, finish is short. No need to cellar any longer, drink now.
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7/11/2009 - mpricher wrote: 88 Points
Consistent color and nose to previous tastings, but the vibrant fruit had missed a step. This is coming down off peak, so if you have some, recommend you drink up. This was the last of my half case, and was not as good as the last bottle.
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7/3/2009 - DB Lawton wrote: 89 Points
Liked this wine quite a bit. Color was fading just a small amount, but fruit was intact and had a medium finish with smoke and earth. Sediment like someone was throwing it in during the bottling by the handful.
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7/3/2009 - jamieirving wrote: 85 Points
A little better than the last bottle, but still good as opposed to great. Showing some lovely blackcurrant and cedar wood characters, but overall perhaps a little unbalanced.
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6/14/2009 - jamieirving wrote: 84 Points
2003 wasn't a particularly outstanding vintage, and I think this wine is reflective. Good, but not great. Deep purple in the glass, this Shiraz shows blackcurrant, cedar wood and tar characters on the nose. The palate shows dried plum, pencil shavings and slightly unbalanced tannins.
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5/22/2009 - seacub wrote: 86 Points
Not as good as I'd hoped. Good fruit and spice, but not really balanced, and not exciting. Lots of sediment. Perhaps decanting would have improved this.
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5/18/2009 - bistro wrote: 87 Points
Good, not great. Nice nose, decent fruit on the finish, depth is ok to good but length is minimal.
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5/11/2009 - ahaslett wrote: 89 Points
Smoky, peppery, cloves and spice. Then some plum, black tea and dark chocolate. Bangin' juice.
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4/17/2009 - joefouche wrote: 90 Points
Wow!! Deep garnet color. Muted peppery nose [or maybe I have been stuffed up for the last few wines?], then a great mix of fruit & spices with a sweetish black-tea finish. Ready to go. Awesome QPR.
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4/15/2009 - fairnymph wrote: 86 Points
Opaque black plum colour, with a bit of reddish-violet around the edge. Smoky, spicy bold nose, with black fruit.
Powerful. Almost gamey-meaty, and quite woody on the attack. Big, drying tannins and a good amount of oak, but both are quite smooth. The fruit in this might be a little past its prime; I get it mostly on the mid-palate, and it's a bit subdued - plum, black cherry, a little blackberry jam. Same with the acidity - I'd like a little more, and it mostly hits on mid-palate and finish, which is almost zesty, as well as quite peppery.
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3/21/2009 - mpricher wrote: 88 Points
Dark inky purple. Dark rich coffee/moca with vanilla/scotch on the nose. The flavors are dark IHOP Berry Syrup. This bottle seemed less dry and more sweet than the last we had in this batch. Not complex, but a great bottle to share over Pizza, ribs, or Choco sundae!
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2/27/2009 - jmoskow wrote: 87 Points
Deep purple, inky, with ripe fruit. Solid and classic example of an Aussie Shiraz.
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2/24/2009 - *Vine* wrote: 91 Points
Popped and allowed 4 hours in bottle to breathe before pouring. Deep, almost inky hue. Initially the aromas were slightly muted, offering only hints of black fruits and cocoa powder. This prompted me to leave it alone for another 60 minutes. In that time, this Shiraz (made by this iconic Australian winery with grapes from a renowned single vineyard) finally opened up, the nose revealing a beautiful aromatic profile of black cherries, cherry cordials, toffee, dill, and assorted herbs (including mint and eucalyptus). Medium-plus body. The palate really explodes with wonderful flavors of ripe cherries, tobacco, nori, roasted herbs, and stones (maybe like a St. Joseph aged in American oak?). Medium length finish with grainy tannins. Could age easily for 10 more years.
If you open this now be sure to give it lots of air!
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2/9/2009 - tcklord wrote: 86 Points
Opened dumped into the decanter for about 5 minutes and poured in the glass. A dark purple with some setiment when put into the glass. Taste was not overly complex but a decent wine that shows the standard characteristics of a shiraz/syrah. A little spicyness and mild tannins, not at all hot. I drank it with spaghetti so it did not seem overly tart but probably could have benefited from more time in the decanter.
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12/12/2008 - mpricher wrote: 91 Points
Dark Purple. Deep rich Shiraz with all the right stuff. A couple of years in the bottle really released some classic mouthfeel and flavor from this bottle. Will try to keep at least one more for the holidays. Very tasty stuff!!!
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12/11/2008 - bkarney wrote: 85 Points
vaaccess said it perfectly. Additionally, I enjoyed the 01 quite a bit more than the 03. Perhaps this one just needs some more time in the bottle but it took nearly 2 hours for it to start softening/opening up. Fair amount of tartrate crystals on the cork and a good bit of sediment in the decanter. Beautiful muted purple color to the wine to match the nearly black cork.
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12/10/2008 - vaaccess wrote: 86 Points
Pretty tight, fairly astringent. Needs to age/decant...
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10/25/2008 - mpricher wrote: 89 Points
Nice Purple, dark and nearly opaque. Lovely QPR and tasty Shiraz. Well balanced and food friendly.
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10/22/2008 - *Vine* wrote: 88 Points
Popped and poured. Deep red-purple. Aromas of black cherry, roasted meats, olive tapenade.......and a touch of coconut. Aromatically I would say this is more similar to a Northern Rhone than the typical Penfolds Bin Series Shiraz. Medium-plus in mouth, the flavors were initially quite tight with little fruit showing over the chewy tannins. However, after about 3 hours of air this Shiraz transforms into a very nice drink, the red and black fruits showing very well over savory notes of game. A touch of green extends on the oak-filled close. Should improve with mid-term cellaring. Not sure if this wine is worth $20+ but at $11.95 it makes a very nice QPR selection.
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10/11/2008 - ghnye wrote: 87 Points
Solid. Nice balanced wine but nothing all that memorable. Good acidity not to much oak. A bit hot on the finish.
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10/9/2008 - tonsta wrote: 88 Points
Dark red colour. Much more savoury than most Aussie shiraz's. Drank really well on the 2nd night. I wasn't expecting much (given the vintage) so this was a pleasent surprise.... Great value for money.
Drink 2010-2015
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10/8/2008 - johnl wrote: 88 Points
Dark inky red color. Ripe strawberries, raspberry and cherries on the nose with just a slight hint of fuel kerosene like funk. Ripe strawberries on the mouth firm tannin, decent mouth-feel with a slightly green finish. Good solid Shiraz would buy again.
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10/5/2008 - javadrinker wrote: 88 Points
This one still needs more time in bottle. It is drinkable now but it can only benefit from further aging. Lot's or berries and some pepper on the nose. Not much fruit on the palate though, at least not at first. The pepper dominated the wine. Drank this one over a four hour period and that last hour was by far the best when the fruit finally had a chance to shine.
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10/3/2008 - raydawgone wrote: 91 Points
Deep, dark chocolate with hints of vanilla. Phenomenal for the price.
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6/3/2008 - ncwinos wrote: 89 Points
drinking very nicely right now
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5/31/2008 - midai wrote: 89 Points
I wanted to let this sit a little longer but am running out of space and need my cellar for newer vintages. I knew this was a winner as soon as I poured it. Inviting fruity smells came out of the glass, 1 hour in-glass decant. just a few crystals on the cork, juice was clear on the first pour but sediment at the bottom on the last pour of the bottle-should have filtered. This is a quality wine vs. the $8 to $10 Shiraz disappointments I have tried recently. My first try of Penfolds and impressed.
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5/19/2008 - RossR wrote: 91 Points
Opened and decanted about 10 minutes after getting home from UPS.
Beautiful dark garnet color.
Poured the bottle into the decanter and immediately poured myself a small taste. A nice peppery blackberry aroma and a fruit explosion on first taste! It lingers and fades to a spicy finish.
As it sat in the decanter, the aromas rounded off and more of the leather came out. A nice velvety mouth feel after about 45 minutes and still fruity bang and balanced spicy finish.
I can't wait to see how these taste after they settle.
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5/18/2008 - green-steve wrote: 87 Points
Decanted for 1 hour. Deep garnet, medium bodied wine. Nice bouquet of dark fruits, palate of the same, nice acidity, medium tannins, medium-long finish. Better after being open a few hours. Would hold other bottles for awhile, or decant at least for two hours. Excellent sipper, also went well with barbecued chicken.
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5/6/2008 - yathink2 wrote: 90 Points
The pork steaks are on the Barbie, actually it’s a smoker I wont be able to give it a full smoke tonight but it should be a good match for this wine.
Color: Beautiful deep Garnet if you hold it over a light it refracts just like the gemstone all while still turning my teeth purple.
I love the nose on this wine, it keeps changing as it opens up. It started with blackberries, pepper and a little flower smell. I cant quite place it so, flowers. Now I get more perfume, kind of musky and fruity at the same time.
This wine is so good, I think I will gift myself a couple more. It starts out really good and just gets better.
I get plums and a bit of acidity and the tannins aren’t the knock you on your ass stuff. It’s a smooth mouthfeel with just the right finish. Kinda like holding OJ in your mouth but better. Acidity, fruit, and a slight bitterness yet, very smooth. You know the flavor that’s left after you eat the Amano chocolate? This is kinda like that. This is a very drinkable wine with or without food.
I gave a glass to my son but, unfortunately he has a very bad head cold and cant enjoy this wine like it needs to be. Poor thing all he gets is the finish, which is very nice but he’s missing the rest.
If you like a big fruit forward wine then you will Love this.
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4/5/2008 - jmcmchi wrote: 89 Points
Deep, intense nose. Chewy, with dark fruit and spice on the finish
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3/11/2008 - mutimir wrote: 79 Points
It didn't work out between us. It started with syrah spices on the nose. It was promising, but then it got matted and blured and dense. A lot of thickness but no clarity at all. After two glasses I felt like I swallowed a brick. C'est la vin.
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3/3/2008 - Cirerep wrote: 90 Points
A typical shiraz, very fruity with velvety tannins and good length. Decanter it for a few ours.
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12/24/2007 - jamesdoeser wrote: 80 Points
good but not great. decant for few hours as needs it to open up. gentle blackberry fruit with some pepper and spice. medium tannins. drink now-2010
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7/28/2007 - ktrh wrote: 85 Points
Fruity and almost sweet, better than I expected. Excellent balance, nicely integrated tannins. Above medium body, but not fullbodied. Very good!
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7/27/2007 - Wrighty wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured and when I walked back into the room there was a strong aromour of blackberries. Deep dark purple colour. Meat and leather on the nose in glass. Palate is a little tight and dry, with a small flat spot, a hint of spice and white pepper on the finish but still quite full and soft. Good long finish.
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7/11/2007 - brentandalex wrote: 89 Points
We will buy this to lay it down for a number of years
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7/8/2007 - jamieirving wrote: 90 Points
Deep dark purple in colour this Shiraz shows how well Australia can make Hermitage. The nose shows an abundance of ripe cherries and plums, vanilla and a hint of white pepper. The palate shows rich fruit characters and a hint of spice. Soft, supple tannins and great balance.
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5/25/2007 - careyd wrote: 90 Points
Very dark purple color. Aromatic nose of berries, pepper and flowers, as well as leather. On the palate, it is dry, very full-bodied with lively acidity, and tannins that are powerful but have softened up quite a bit since my last in 9/2006. This wine is a spicy, fruity explosion of flavor. Black cherries, plums, blackberry, leather, layers of flavors, black pepper, a dry plum and spice finish. Good length...20-30 seconds. This wine has progressed nicely in the cellar. pairs well with dark and/or spicy meats. It is drinking very well now and should continue to do so for a year or two, perhaps longer.
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5/18/2007 - GuBe wrote: 90 Points
Mjög gott vín. Berjaríkt.
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5/15/2007 - Jake_Meister wrote: 89 Points
Needs time
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4/8/2007 - ldhaynesnc wrote: 90 Points
Very good shiraz
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2/22/2007 - jskuek wrote: 84 Points
dull purple on the rim. dry and spicy finishes, a bit of pepper. A powerful shiraz but too strong for me.
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2/10/2007 - 750ml wrote: 88 Points
Blackberry, pepper and plum on the nose with some leathery overtones. Spices overwhelm the palate, yet this bottle achieved some balance between the fruit and tannins. Residue in the glass approaches that of an unfined wine, while the finish is of moderate length and hot. Definately more body for the Aussie equivalent of a Beringer, and heavier than the Bin 128 Coonawarra last month. I liked this bottle, but only to buy and enjoy, not for long term cellaring.
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1/9/2007 - jamieirving wrote: 90 Points
This deep purple shiraz really shows the lighter side of Barossa fruit. The nose shows ripe red fruit and a hint of vanilla. The palate shows ripe plum and a hint of tobacco. Velvety tannins and good length. Very nice!
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12/26/2006 - jamieirving wrote: 89 Points
Deep purple in colour Bin 28 expresses more of the fruit characters of Australian Shiraz, without relying on new oak or alcohol. Made from 100% Shiraz grapes sourced from the Mclaren Vale, Langhorne Creek and the Barossa Valley Bin 28 is aged in old American oak barrels. The nose shows cherry aromas and (seasonally) Christmas pudding. The palate is plummy with good berry fruits and a hint of spice. Drinking well now, but should improve a little more.
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12/6/2006 - gverreydt wrote:
zwart, gesloten, te jong, geconcentreerd, lange afdronk, zwarte bes, 7j
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11/19/2006 - jamieirving wrote: 88 Points
Deep ruby red in colour this Shiraz is exceptionally fruit driven. The nose shows red fruit and vanilla characters. The palate is dry with jammy dark fruits and cigar box. Velvety tannins and good length.
Tasted in the Grand Tasting at the 10th Decanter Fine Wine Encounter, Landmark Hotel, London.
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11/17/2006 - Ian S wrote:
Cork closure, tasted in Riedel vinum Syrah glass with no decanting.
Eye: Dense somewhat dull purple, showing no age at the rim.
Nose: Somewhat pungent on opening, this blew off leaving the nose majoring on typical blackberries and plums together with white pepper. There was just a touch of 'cheap' confection about the fruit on the nose. There is relatively subtle but still prominent oak influence.
Palate: Quite different to previous bin28's I've had. Although there's good breadth to the palate, it's initially sweet fruit moves swiftly towards more savoury/peppery and falls away on the finish too quickly. Tannins are firm enough but far from oppressive and the fruit at this stage is more than a match for it. Acidity is ok at this stage in it's life, but might be a bit on the light side for anything but short-term ageing (3-5 years). There's a slightly bitter, almost salty edge to the wine, edging the savouriness towards sourness and this doesn't do much for me.
Overall impression: For me, quite a big disappointment. I've found this a good-value label in previous years, but this (hot vintage) wine just isn't impressing me. The finish is woefully short and it feels quite disjointed. As Michelle said, enjoyable as a £6-8 table wine, but poor at it's standard £10-11 price.
I suspect the 2002 will show much better (cooler year) so will be very keen to see what others nake of this wine and the previous vintage.
<< 2 days later - having decanted to a half bottle & re-stoppered immediately >>
Quite a subtle nose of sweet blackberries and pepper. Still good strength to the fruit, perhaps it's even showing stronger tonight, albeit with a slightly syrupy taste. In doing so, this helps reduce the disjointedness noticed on the 1st night, though it's still there. The same finish is noted (someone suggested a better descriptor - Soy Sauce, which I think is much more appropriate) and perhaps there's a hint of caramel now. I think the extra air time has helped this wine a little, but it's still not a good example of the label.
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9/21/2006 - careyd wrote: 91 Points
Tasted at a fundraiser tasting in Burnsville, MN. Deep, dark color of purple/red to ruby. Clear center to rim. Aromatic youthful, but not-ultra-young nose of cherry, berry and pepper. Dray, full-bodied. lively acidity, medium-high astringent tannins. This is a powerful wine of cherry, berry, pepper, complexity and yet does all of this very smoothly. Long 20 second finish. Ordered some of this one after the tasting.
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3/6/2006 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - Fosters new releases (Guillaume at Bennelong): {cork, 14.5%, A$24} The Bin 28 is in some ways even more disappointing! [than the Bin 128] The nose is of ripe, yet highly stressed fruit. Blackberry & oak fight it out. The palate is big in size, yet hollow, and precedes a short harsh finish. I know it’s young, but it seems to me to lack the stuffing and/or innate quality to age well in future.
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