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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 92.5 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 9 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Khon Kaen on 5/5/2024: Cork (268 views) | | | Tasted by Crabby26 on 4/14/2024: Cork (901 views) | | | Tasted by Brent25 on 3/21/2024 & rated 91 points: Clear deep ruby/purple; clean medium plus nose of fresh blackberry, dust, spring forest and charred meat; dry; high acidity; medium plus tannins; high alcohol; medium plus body; medium plus to pronounced flavour intensity; palate is tarter with nice fruit, black pepper, black licorice and tar; long finish; drink now or in 10 years; our favourite of the night (other than Grange); Penfolds LCBO dinner (1157 views) | | | Tasted by LeroyHilarious on 2/2/2024 & rated 93 points: Love it! (1596 views) | | | Tasted by thebonnydooner on 11/17/2023 & rated 92 points: Penfolds Online tasting: Very inky in colour. A little more giving on the nose than the St Henri. On the palate it explodes with fruit, riot of blackcurrants, dark plum and dark cherries. Tannic edge but the fruit shines over it even now. It is very dry, so for sure will benefit from aging. Quite delicious even though it is obviously young. (2019 views) | | | Tasted by Zweder on 11/10/2023 & rated 94 points: Red and dark berries, sweet spices, powerful and expressive with a firm amount of beautiful and juicy acidity and tannin, a pleasant touch of sweetness and bitterness. Great length. A very beautiful wine with a long future. A great pleasure already, but it will only gain finesse and complexity over the next 10+ years. 93 - 95+ (1610 views) | | | Tasted by remyworldpeace on 8/10/2023 & rated 93 points: V high new American oak = lots of declassified Grange. Great freshness. Cassis, raspberry, warm spices, oak and cedar, sweet tobacco.
Like all of the Penfolds Bins tasted, this is excellent value. (1892 views) | | | Tasted by gparker777 on 8/10/2023 & rated 92 points: Presenting a dark plum hue in the glass, this wine showcases a captivating and forward fruit profile that encompasses dark fruits such as blueberries, plums, and liquorice. The front palate is fruit-dominated, but a unique negroni note emerges as it moves to the middle, leading to an intriguing finish. Initial bitterness and a robust tannin presence are notable, but with more air it opened up and these characteristics mellowed, allowing for a more enjoyable and harmonious finish. Review in 5+ years. (2267 views) |
| By Campbell Mattinson
The WINEFRONT (7/26/2023)
(Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Halliday
Halliday Wine Companion (7/14/2023)
(Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz South Australia) Subscribe to see review text. | By Angus Hughson
Vinous, Penfolds Collection 2023 (Jul 2023) (7/1/2023)
(Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Bin 389 Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (6/29/2023)
(Penfolds Cabernet Shiraz South Australia Bin 389 , Australia) Subscribe to see review text. | By Tina Gellie
Decanter, Penfolds Collection 2023 tasting (6/27/2023)
(Penfolds, Bin 389 Cabernet-Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia, Australia, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (6/27/2023)
(Penfolds, Bin 389 Cabernet/Shiraz South Australia Red) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of The WINEFRONT and Halliday Wine Companion and Vinous and JamesSuckling.com and Decanter and JancisRobinson.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Penfolds Producer website
Producer Cellar Door - Barossa (Google Maps)
About Us
Australia's winemaking history of less than two hundred years is brief by European measures though, like Europe, punctuated by periods of extreme success and difficult times. From the earliest winemaking days Penfolds has figured prominently and few would argue the importance of Penfolds’ influence on Australia’s winemaking psyche.
Without the influence of Penfolds the modern Australian wine industry would look very different indeed. Sitting comfortably outside of fad and fashion, Penfolds has taken Australian wine to the world on a grand stage and forged a reputation for quality that is without peer.
Penfolds’ reputation for making wines of provenance and cellaring potential might suggest a mantle of tradition and formality is the preferred attire of a company with so much history to defend. But to label Penfolds as simply an established and conventional winemaker, would be to confuse tradition with consideration and to overlook the innovative spirit that has driven Penfolds since its foundation, and continues to find expression in modern times.
If there is anything traditional about Penfolds, it is the practice of constantly reviewing the wines it already does well, and continuously evolving and refining styles as vineyards mature and access to ever older and more varied vineyard sites improves.
Making The Best Possible Wine
At Penfolds, the role of the winemaker is to make the best possible wine within the constraints of each vintage. Penfolds’ house style emerged from a fortified-wine producing culture and evolved as a winemaking philosophy – a way of making wine – which has had a profound effect on the entire Australian wine industry.
The concept of multi-regional and vineyard blending, a feature of the Penfolds house style, is an amplification of the ‘all-round wine’. Without the constraints of a single vineyard, winemakers could choose the best possible fruit with the outstanding characteristics of each vineyard.
While American oak has played a central role in the development of Penfolds red wines, French oak has been increasingly used in the evolution of new wines – particularly RWT and Yattarna. Maturation in oak, which follows fermentation, is also key to the Penfolds house style.
The Penfolds approach to winemaking has percolated through the entire Australian wine industry over the last 50 years. The techniques employed in research and development of Penfolds wines are remarkable and many of the discoveries and innovations have had a lasting impact on winemaking thinking.
Winemakers
In Max Schubert, Don Ditter, John Duval and Peter Gago, Penfolds has nurtured four of Australia's great winemakers. They have passed the Chief Winemaker’s baton of responsibility for crafting some of Australia's most iconic wines, down through the past six decades.
Joining Peter Gago in the Penfolds winemaking team are Senior Red Winemaker Steve Lienert, Senior White Winemaker Kym Schroeter, and Red Winemakers Andrew Baldwin, Adam Clay, Stephanie Dutton and Matt Woo - also the Penfolds Fortified Winemaker. All members of the Penfolds winemaking team ensure that Penfolds’ reputation for outstanding quality is upheld.
Vineyards
Barossa Valley
Penfolds draws fruit from a combined vineyard area of 618 hectares in the Barossa region of South Australia. The Barossa is about 70 kilometres north of Adelaide and in 1911 Penfolds established a winery at Nuriootpa, completed in time for the 1913 vintage. The Barossa region is known for its relatively low rainfall with many vineyards dry grown on single wire trellising.
Magill Estate
The historic and heritage-protected Magill Estate Vineyard was established in 1844 by Dr Christopher Rawson and Mary Penfold—just eight years after the foundation of Adelaide. It was originally known as the Grange Vineyard, named after their new homestead ‘The Grange’, a cottage which still stands intact amongst the vines.
Eden Valley
Joseph Gilbert planted the first vines in the Eden Valley in 1842 and since that time the region has become synonymous with producing elegant riesling and complex shiraz. While its name suggests a concave nature, Eden Valley is actually a wide ridge, situated east of the Barossa Valley with an altitude ranging from 440 – 550 metres.
McLaren Vale
McLaren Vale is located approximately 40km to the south of Adelaide, with the vineyards in the region located between 6 and 15 kilometres from the Gulf of St Vincent. The elevation ranges from 50 to 350 metres above sea level. Penfolds has company owned vineyards throughout the region, using the fruit as blending components for premium red wines such as Grange and Bin 389.
Coonawarra
Penfolds has had a long history with the Coonawarra region, dating back to their first vineyard purchase in 1960. It is one of the most famous red wine regions in Australia with weathered limestone terra rossa soils, relatively cool climate and overall water availability. Coonawarra has played a significant role in many of Penfolds' multi-regional wines as well as the single region wines such as Bin 128.
James Halliday Australian Wine Companion Winery Of The Year 2014: Penfolds
Penfolds is Australia’s foremost winemaker, with an unbroken line dating back to its establishment in 1844 when medical practitioner Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold and wife Mary purchased ‘the delightfully situated and truly valuable of Mackgill … Comprising 500 acres (202 hectares) of the choicest land’. Here they built the house that still stands today, and within a few years had begun the winery and cellar on the site of today’s buildings at Magill Estate.
Mary took charge of winemaking, initially producing grenache prescribed by her husband as a tonic for anaemic patients. By 1870 she, son-in-law Thomas Hyland and cellar manager/winemaker Joseph Gillard had formed Penfolds & Co. With markets in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, their wine production was over one-third of South Australia’s total.
Growth continued unabated, and in 1945 Penfolds acquired the jewel of the Magill Vineyard, at that time the largest vineyard in South Australia. It now has 2100 hectares of vineyards, the largest share of Australia’s total. Two men came together in the 1950s to lay the foundation of Penfolds today: winemaker Max Schubert, and research chemist Ray Beckwith (who died shortly after his 100th birthday in 2012); indeed, their contribution transcended Penfolds to the entire Australian wine industry.
The architecture for the Penfolds wine portfolio of the twenty-first century was established in the 1960s, half a century ago. There has been growth, both in the range of labels and their price points, but it has been cleverly – indeed sensitively – managed; demand-driven growth has been achieved without any quality compromise whatsoever.
There is no possibility that the pre-eminence of Penfolds will ever be challenged by any other Australian wine business. Equally certain is that the Penfolds brand value will continue to gain ground on the world stage of all consumable products. If proof be needed, the overall quality of the wines in this Wine Companion is the best Penfolds has ever presented to the markets of the globe.
Author: James Halliday Jul 20132021 Penfolds Bin 389
Bin 389 was often referred to as ‘Baby Grange’, in part because components of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. First made in 1960 by the legendary Max Schubert, this was the wine that helped forge Penfolds reputation with red wine drinkers by combining the structure of cabernet sauvignon with the richness of shiraz. Exemplifying the judicious balance of fruit and oak, Bin 389 highlights the generous mid-palate Penfolds is known for.
GRAPE VARIETY
Cabernet Sauvignon (53%), Shiraz (47%)
VINEYARD REGION
McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, Wrattonbully, Padthaway
WINE ANALYSIS
Alc/Vol: 14.5%, Acidity: 6.6 g/L, pH: 3.67
MATURATION
12 months in American oak hogsheads (37% new)
VINTAGE CONDITIONS
McLaren Vale enjoyed a relatively mild growing season. Dry conditions in July were countered by good spring rainfall. Warm conditions prevailed throughout spring. There were only nine summer days above 35°C. January conditions were near average, however conditions in February and March were mild. Veraison was late and that pushed harvest into March. The Barossa Valley growing season was also relatively mild with long dry spells. July was unusually dry, however good falls in August provided a solid foundation for the vines to thrive in spring. Spring temperatures were generally warmer than average with favourable climactic conditions for budburst and flowering. Summer temperatures were near long-term average, with 21 days >35°C. Coonawarra, Wrattonbully and Padthaway in the Southeast all had a favourable start to the growing season. Spring was notably warm, November especially, up +3°C on the long-term average in Coonawarra. Coonawarra experienced seven days of minimum temperatures <2°C, however none of these were below 0 and no frost damage was reported. Wrattonbully had some isolated frost, but with minimal crop loss. Conditions for flowering were ideal, leading to excellent fruit set and yields. Padthaway yields were 25% above the norm. Except for a few wet days in February, the predicted La Niña conditions failed to materialise. Overall, the summer and autumn conditions were cooler than average, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and evenly. An outstanding vintage for both cabernet sauvignon and shiraz.
COLOUR
Black core, purple rim
NOSE
A kaleidoscope of aromas. First noted, sweet pastries. Blueberry danish and chocolate croissant. Sugar dusting. The fruits of the forest are quick to emerge, fresh blackberries and mulberries dominant.
There is the faintest suggestion of formic acid, Max Schubert would approve. Dried bay leaf, pink peppercorns and black cardamom add spicy intrigue.
The imagination conjures thoughts of rare roast beef with black pepper crust, seared venison loin, coal dust, cocoa powder and graphite. With a swirl, aniseed/licorice notes become pronounced.
PALATE
A flawless integration of the two varietals, neither dominating but working together in harmony.
The aroma descriptors deftly match the palate. Flavours of black fruit and red fruit compote abound. Cocoa powder sweetness adds weight to the substantial mid-palate.
There are plenty of savoury flavours to balance out the sweetness, with cold sliced salted beef, roast lamb cooking juices
and cured pastrami.
The tannins are fine, reminiscent of oolong tea, providing plenty of structure. The delicious fruit is married seamlessly with the creamy American oak.
A fine seam of acid provides a refreshing lift on the finish. Very approachable now, but with plenty to offer down the track.
PEAK DRINKING
2025 – 2055
LAST TASTED
April 2023Penfolds Bin 389The Rewards of Patience (7th Edition)
Vintage Label Cabernet Shiraz
2010 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 51% 49%
2009 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 51% 49%
2008 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 52% 48%
2007 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 54% 46%
2006 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
2005 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 52% 48%
2004 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 53% 47%
2003 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
2002 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 54% 46%
2001 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
2000 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1999 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1998 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 58% 42%
1997 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1996 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1995 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1994 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1993 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1992 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1991 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 67% 33%
1990 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1989 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1988 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1987 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1986 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 68% 32%
1985 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 52.5% 47.5%
1984 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1983 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1982 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1981 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1980 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1979 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1978 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1977 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1976 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1975 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1974 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1973 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1972 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1971 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1970 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1969 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1968 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1967 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1966 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1965 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1964 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1963 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1962 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1961 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1960 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
1959 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
Cabernet-Shiraz BlendA very popular blend in Australia-particularly from South Australia, where the two varietals work well together. The most famous of these would be the Penfolds Bin 389, considered Australia's most cellared wine. In years gone by this was referred to as "Baby Grange" as some of the wine used barrels from the vintage of Grange.
The 2018 Paternus states only McLaren Vale Shiraz (no Cab Sav).Australia Wine Australia (Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation) | Australian Wines (Wikipedia)South Australia South Australian Wine Industry Association | South Australian Wines (Wikipedia) |
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