2011 Penfolds Bin 389

Community Tasting Notes (42) Avg Score: 91.3 points

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  5/19/2024 - DanielAVTL Likes this wine: 91 Points

  * Decanted 2-hours before serving. Paired beautifully with homemade Ragu.
  
  Upon opening the wine was already displaying an intriguing nose of dark chocolate, balsamic, prunes, rhubarb, black currant and smoked meats. Very promising.
  
  2 hours in, and the mouth had integrated beautifully, with silky smooth tannins, and round and opulent mouth-fill, medium to full body and lovely dark fruit, leather, chocolate and spices.
  
  While I wouldn't compare the style to top-flight BDX (as some of the reviewers have suggested), this definitely has a lovely depth and complexity, albeit with a more modern flavor profile. If you come here expecting mature left-bank cabernet you will not be fulfilled, but on it's own right, this is a wonderful example of how new-world wines can be elegant, balanced and complex, while still retaining there own unique character.
  
  A lovely wine, and a food wine. 91 points on the night, drink now through 2030.

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  5/4/2024 - empire80 Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Quite young and tight still. Shiraz is dominating at the moment, with aniseed/liquorice notes, the cabernet flavours very much in the background, with a bit of blackcurrant coming through at the end. Better with food (rare steak!)

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  1/26/2023 - thatsbabymakinwine Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Power and huge promise on the nose of this patiently-cellared Baby Grange. The layered palate is something special, incredibly harmonious, with a smoothness and depth that somehow disguise the 14.5% alcohol. The tannins are unobtrusive and the oak beautifully integrated. The quality of the Cabernet and expertise in the blending here make it quite reminiscent of great Claret from top vintages. Bought at release years ago, this is not inexpensive wine, but it’s very good value.

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  12/25/2022 - sean.beaton@bigpond.com wrote:

  Consumed Xmas 2022 @Wahroonga

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  11/5/2022 - mikelikewine Likes this wine: 92 Points

  First time trying any vintage of Bin 389 so wasn’t sure what to expect. Expected a bit more of a fruit bomb if anything, but it was quite refined in my opinion. Great concentration. Nose reminded me of a mature left bank Bordeaux. Decanted 5 hours and I think it needed it, was still evolving by the last glass. Will be buying more, but not necessarily this vintage.

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