Brief note from a dinner with extended family. Nose was notable for forest floor, sous bois. Dark fruits on the palate, somewhat creamy, fine powdery tannins. Enjoyable drink, paired quite well with lotus rice with chinese sausage.
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See previous notes. Medium intensity on the nose. Blackberry, cassis, lead and pencil shavings. A little too ripe and over extracted for my taste. The heat was also evident. Hold.
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deep dark ruby purple color; nose of cherry and blueberry; medium body; plum , cinnamon, leather and graphite flavors; smooth tannnins; nice finish. very enjoyable
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PnPd; clean cork. Dark garnet with crimson rim. A ripe, macerated berry attack on the nose. Seems primary still. A touch less rustic and more elegant on the palate. Decent balance - a tad hot. There's quality here but an unexpected short finish.
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Had side by side with a 2013 Penfolds Bin 389 and 2013 Penfolds. St Henri Shiraz TN: Dark fruit, purple and opaque. Well-made and tannins still present but a less grippy then before Comparison with others: Clearly the Cab in the blend, provides the structure which I thought that the St Henri, while still beautiful, had less of. The 2013 Bin 389 was more open with smoother tannins, but after two hours of airing the 2018 opened up nicely.
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Received a partial bottle from my Oenophile neighbor. 14.5% abv 57% Cabernet Sauvignon; 43% Shiraz
Both spouse and I had a half glass with dinner. Deep opaque Purple in the glass. Prominent nose of Cherry, Blackberry & Cassis. Smooth on the palate; Big, Bold and Lush with notes of graphite (pencil lead) and tobacco. Tannins come to the fore, leaving a fuzzy feeling on the tooth, but there is some lingering sense of harshness. Ample acidity for a pleasantly tart, lingering finish. As noted by some in prior tasting notes, Good now, but should be Great with additional cellaring.
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A very good vintage of 389! The nose is dense and packed with dark mulberry jam, pastry crust, nutmeg, lavender, licorice, sweet mint and violets. The palate echoes the nose nicely, but hoists up graphite and some cherry tobacco. Tannins are suave, velvet, and melt in your mouth while the superb concentration of fruit remains focused but not overdone. It is however, as with most Penfolds wines save the St. Henri, fairly lavish and generous in style. But the sheer power of the fruit in this blend more than merits the somewhat obvious oak regimen, and the wine wears it with shine, sophistication, and class. Outstanding.
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Decanted prior to dinner; it took about 45 minutes for this to open. Perfect with the smoked, pulled pork shoulder, potato salad and macaroni salad. Unfurls with pungent violets, noticeable pencil lead, spicy black currant, juicy blackberry, ripe black cherry, chewy black licorice, creamy vanilla, and oak spice, underscored with emerging bacon fat, black pepper, taut leather, and crunchy earth. Full bodied mouthfeel. Seems to be in the early stages of development. Structural components are present, but it needs more time to completely come together. Strong finish. Drink now with food and decanting or hold and drink through 2033+ .
There's really no excuse for opening this bottle so young. Little on the nose when it was first opened, dark purple, initially red fruits, cherry and blackcurrant, but a lack of balance of tannins at the moment. A big wine. Day two slightly softer but still very strong with too much acidity. I will try to wait another five years.
Very dark red/purple color. Small glass off reserve pairing list Travail. CS57, S43. Very young, high toned, ripe, oak, blackberry, mulberry, tart and woodsy with a youthful green streak. Needs time. 88 to 89 now.
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Whilst this was a nice enough blend, it wasn't the gob-smacking delight I had been expecting. I've certainly had better Cab/Shiraz blends for a lot less (eg. Jim Barry PB).
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Nose of black cherry, black pepper, eucalyptus, and spice. Palate very similar. Medium to high tannin with enough acidity for balance. Outstanding with steak and potatoes.
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Pulled from the cellar by accident last nite, and popped and poured (thought it was a much older bottle). Aromas of eucalyptus, mint and cherry liquor. Deep ruby/violet color. This wine is on the young side, though not particularly tannic. Plenty of red and black fruit here, with a mineral, almost limestone mouthfeel. Spicy, smoky, a bit oaky, and on the hot side (14.5%). Not my usual style of wine but I enjoyed this Aussie blend (57% cab, 43% shiraz). I'd put this aside for 5 years at least, and decant
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Another Australian wine courtesy of Penfolds. Decanted for 80 minutes.
Med intensity nose of dark fruit, oak and smoke. Initial sips were plum, tobacco and cocoa. This one really opened up beautifully. On the palate, chocolate, tobacco, plum and baking spice. Layered and complex with a long, lingering finish of black pepper and tobacco.
Med+ bodied, grippy chocolate tannins, perfectly dry and with balanced acidity. This one was easy drinking and delightful.
This is another great Australian. Very good.
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Red fruit nose, eucalyptus, clay, some mint, blackberry, bing cherry. Harsher tannin than the bin 600, as well as some stronger tannin. This comes across as much brighter--and it will get much better with time. I could easily see this as a 20-30 year wine. If I had to guess the cabernet this year was extra Coonawarra heavy. This would be quite good now with a long decant, but has a lot of upside as well. Year after year, this is my favorite of the Penfolds range.
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Beautiful wine! Fresh, good acidity - not too much, with the lift of Cabernet Sauvignon and the depth of Shiraz, not a sweetness but a brightness, a wine to drink anytime, with or without food. Hits 'the spot'!
Drinking this July 2022 in Florida, 78 degrees F room temperature and it's lovely. Bravo Penfolds!
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NOTE: anything I think fits prestige wine status I rate at 90+ ie could be anything 90~100. Been out of the loop for 30 yrs when I was playing with 1982 Bordeaux.
Looking a more and more attractive and complex Penfolds 389 over a ‘Coravin Month’. I grew up with it when it was cheap, I preferred aged Kalimna Bin 28 seemed more like an advanced aged Grange. But now because of price I pay more attention, notice the oak, the Penfolds red, and is that a hint of ‘mint’? Something nice and lifted that may develope in time, a very different path to the 2017 Grange which I am tasting at the same time.
I have not entered notes for the 2017, it’s Grange! I’ll make notes when I get the 2018
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Ripe, concentrated, and sappy. Shows a berry driven profile with olive and creamy oak mixed in. Palate is rather soft and velvety at this stage. While tannins are present they are rather wrapped up in the considerable layers of fruit. On the simple side for the price. Given the history and producer I’d say hold—without that track record I wouldn’t be an confident in aging.
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Very inky and dark purple colour. I feel there is a bitterness in the early pour which went away after a couple of weeks (was on the Coravin). More rounded later with softened tannins and dark chocolate notes on the palatte. Subtle smoke, perhaps leather. Great length. Can see how ageing in Grange barrels imparts a subtle Grange signature in the 389.
Some of the most legitimately "smoky" wine I've ever had; almost tastes like liquid firewood. A little shocking at first, but good in its own way. Deep fruit comes out more after sitting for a bit. Nice tannins without being too grippy. Quite nice despite its very unusual characteristics which is interesting and exciting to achieve.
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From a Coravin at Bacchus Restaurant in Grapevine, TX.
Big and bold, but approachable. Very dark color, full nose, a little spice and hints of Cabernet. Full throat finish. Probably better in a few years, but enjoyable now.
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Tasted Blind. Big and brooding, tannins so grippy that my lips went numb. Darker fruit, currant, smokey oak, eucalyptus. Lingering, chewy flavors. Feels/tastes opulent.
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Gave 1 hr decant. Wine is dark reddish/purple, dark fruits with little oak & graphite. The palate is big and bold, jammy with plenty of tannin's. Layers and good mouth feeling along with silky smooth finish. Overall excellent performance. Buy more and cellar for a year or two for more enjoyment.
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Wine dark purple and opaque. The palate was as expected, big and bold, jammy with strong tannins. This is certainly a new world wine, but didn't come off as overly sweet like some Napa wines. Overall solid performance.
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Master of Wine Konstantin Baum featured a sampling of Penfolds wine in one of his YouTube videos: the 2017 Penfolds Bin 2 Shiraz Mataro. He gave it quite a good review, saying it would be perfect for a holiday dinner as everyone at the table would like it. He also added that, due to its high alcohol content, if you do not like your relatives it can help you get through the evening. Certainly a bonus! This intrigued me, so I sought out some Penfolds at the nearest Total Wine & More. Maybe I should save some for when the relatives come over?
This particular bottle advertises itself as a wine in which “the structure and definition of Cabernet Sauvignon coupled with the richness and depth of shiraz align, courted by the Prudent use of American oak.” Evidently it combines wines from several different regions to include Barossa, McLaren Vale and others. Regarding the 2018 vintage, it states: “Relatively dry conditions coupled with near long-term winter/spring temperatures indicated an early start to the growing season… Warm and sunny weather prevailed throughout spring providing optimal conditions for flowering and fruit-set…Late flowering and the delayed onset of veraison throughout the south-east slowed harvest by a few weeks. The warm, dry weather carried into autumn, setting up an Indian summer with favourable conditions for ripening grapes.” So overall, from the sound of it one can expect big, bold fruit dominating this wine.
Somewhere between a deep ruby and a deep purple in color, this wine is strikingly aromatic and can be smelled even when the glass is sitting on the table. Indeed, it presents a rich nose full of red and black fruits, under which lie an interesting combination of cedar, forest floor and whiskey barrel with a subtle touch of vanilla extract. Upon sipping, one is met with a full-bodied wine with a supple body, medium acidity and beefy yet velvety tannins. The attack offers ample blackberry and black cherry flavors, which are soon joined in the midpalate by quite a bit of black pepper, black plum, and tobacco. These in turn lie over a substrate of oaky vanilla and an earthy note that as difficult to pinpoint. The finish goes on for days! It starts off with ephemeral notes of cocoa, after which the blackberry and black raspberry linger for quite some time, fading gradually into nothingness. After a few sips, a vague menthol character builds up in the finish. Eucalyptus, anyone?
Unfortunately my wife wanted nothing to do with this bottle. I guess I'm enjoying it on my own...oh darn.
This is wonderfully complex! A solid choice and I can see this wine ageing very well; it certainly has the tannin structure to support it. It is, however, quite drinkable right now. But for now, this is a beefy wine that needs your time and attention. Recommend sitting down with it and some aged gouda (I find Old Amsterdam is a good choice). Enjoy!
2hr double decant. Nose of dark fruits, minerals, graham crackers, spices, and hint of menthol herbs. Full and fruit forward. Lovely fine tannin structure, well integrated.
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Decanted for two hours. Full-bodied and of course lavish, with finesse; there’s a solid middle and a long finish. Blackberries, dried cherries, antique shop, cherry wood, raspberry liqueur and crumbling rock. The finish shows fruit and rock, as there’s dimension and poise. No lack of flavor, but there’s an attractive staying power. This is quite young and will age well. Drink 2024 - 2036.
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Tightly structured. Still young. But has all of the components when it comes together. Deep purple. Maturing back cherry, blackberry, plum, allspice, tobacco and cigar box notes. Medium + acid, medium + tannins, high alcohol, full body, medium + finish. Still largely primary Cabernet varietal fruit flavors with secondary notes of vanilla, tobacco, allspice. Very good quality wine. May be consumed now with a fatty meal pairing, but will improve greatly in a few years.
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Penfolds 70th Anniversary of Grange Celebration (Eleven Madison Park): 53% Cab | 47% Shiraz aged in American oak. This is a big wine for sure. Blackberry, very round, fruit much more prevalent but towards the end you can get some of the Shiraz spice notes too. The wine that got me into wine, but I feel like this needs a lot of time to settle some.
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Amazing wine!! All kinds of complex goodness even on first pour. The deep rich color as it poured into the decanter was beautiful. Should benefit from aging the next 5-10 years, but surprising approachable after an hour of air time. Nose has plum and currant fruit with cedar and tobacco under tones. Medium to full body on the palate. Would love to see this vintage pop up again on my wine feed.
Deep ruby; medium plus intensity aromas; black plum, black currant, green bell pepper, licorice, thyme, sage, smoke, cedar, cigar box, blueberry, and black pepper; dry with medium acid, medium tannin, full body and high alcohol; medium plus finish; very good and complex; needs more time to integrate.
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Opened in 2021. Long legs, strong plum, sweet cherry fragrance with light graphite. Medium sweet, full body, medium acidity, strong frontal grip tannins. Sour cherry finish. Tasted better after 1.5 hr decanting.
I tried same vintage with an aerator instead of decanting 1.5 hr — way worse. Fragrance was muted with graphite notes and much less red fruits.
[2nd bottle opened in August 2021] decanted for 1 hr. Fruit forward, red cherry aroma, light-to-medium legs. Medium dry, medium body, strong frontal grip tannins.
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Nose: Red flower, smashed black cherry, black pepper.
Mouth: Juicy cassis and black cherry glide through on a lightly glossy frame, introducing threads of rooibos tea, liquid violet, and a hefty dose of cracked pepper and loam toward the end of the midpalate. Finish holds that note, as the fruit comes back for a light encore and the bitter black tea pops at the end.
Overall: Midpalate feels a little hollow for what I expected here, but the overall quality is good. Keeps excellent freshness and drive throughout, and the tannins are nice and tame even now. Drink 2023 - 2035.
92.
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Dark fruit nose typical of a CS-heavy blend. Surprisingly gentle hit of dark berry--blackberry, blueberry--on the tip of the tongue. The Syrah content seems to stifle some other cabernet dimensions that I might normally see. On introduction there is a silky mouthfeel. However, as the wine moves to the rear tongue and the throat, tannin and acid are detected. A full-bodied wine that will benefit greatly from several more years of aging.
Deep purple color. Nose of this Cabernet (57) Syrah (43) blend is heavy on leather, dark chocolate and light cedar. Flavors of dark fruit and oak spice. I enjoyed the savory top notes of leather and chocolate that made this wine distinctive among a number of red blends sampled this night.
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Collector1855 pretty much nails it. The wine is enjoyable, you can sense that american oak, has a silver-oak-esq-ness to it but more chocolaty, very new world and rich, but generic is a good way to put it. If I tried it Blind I would guess Washington state Cab. I see this as a crowd pleaser, something most people will enjoy.
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Penfolds dinner. Tastd next to the 2017 St.Henri which was a bit more soft and plush. In the 289 we can feel the additional acidity and structure the Cabernet brings. The wine is good but feels a bit unspecific, commercial. In any case, I am not a big fan of Cabernet/Syrah blends. I love both grapes but I don't think they make nearly as good as a blend as a Cab/Merlot or a GSM.
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Tasted young. Black fruit, oak and vanilla on the nose. Also detected some iron upon tasting. Reliable quaff - wonder how this will taste a few years out when the fruit mellows.
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Amazing baby Grange. Opened by mistake as a Bin 138 was the designated one for the evening. So concentrated with black berries, cherries, chocolate, very acidic and intense tannins but still so delicious after a few hours in the decanter.
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Compared to the 2017 vintage, this vintage is more approachable, open and offers sweeter black and blue fruits upfront. Initially nose can almost be described as too simple and fruity. Give this an hour in the decanter, layers of black pepper, roasted vanilla beans and star anise shine brightly on the nose. The palate again offers the same profile as the upfront sweet fruit and spicy nose. It is rich, fresh and penetrating at the same time. Texture is already quite polished though. Full-bodied and extremely lively presentation where all elements jump out of the huge structure to show their presence. Transitions to the long and alcoholic finish is rather abrupt. This is definitely louder and friendlier than the 2017 vintage, somewhat like the 2016 but with higher energy and openness to impress. This will be a popular wine for many, at least when it is drank young where it is still very aromatic and fruity. However, I am not sure if this will age and develop more depth and finesse as well as the 2017 vintage. If you like the full throttle Cabernet or Shiraz, drink this with an hour of decanting. Otherwise don’t touch it for another 3 years for the wine to achieve better balance. 91-92 pts
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Billiet's A**tastic Aussie's (Billiet's Bordelo): Dark fruits and a piney menthol action on the nose. Really classy on the palate, a decent undergird of acidity. Beautiful flavor profile. A decent finish but cut off a tad short. Still a very nice wine! Finished 4 out of 6.
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3/31/2024 - econnertx Does not like this wine: 87 Points
I found it to be bland, not overly complex with minimal aroma. Others liked the mineral nature more than me
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3/2/2024 - CaptBmann Likes this wine: 94 Points
👍 😎 A big n bold Aussie red! Purple. Legs 🦵. Sediment. Full body blackberry, blueberry, cassis, oak. Dry. Soft. Tannins.
Decanted.
A wine comparison with 2013 Brown Brothers Shiraz Blend.
Bin 389 was a unanimous winner. 🏆
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1/18/2024 - Saint B Likes this wine:
Brief note from a dinner with extended family. Nose was notable for forest floor, sous bois. Dark fruits on the palate, somewhat creamy, fine powdery tannins. Enjoyable drink, paired quite well with lotus rice with chinese sausage.
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12/20/2023 - austinlee168 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Oak, wood leather, blackberry. Strong tannins but not overwhelming.
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11/3/2023 - Es7e2003 Likes this wine: 91 Points
See previous notes. Medium intensity on the nose. Blackberry, cassis, lead and pencil shavings. A little too ripe and over extracted for my taste. The heat was also evident. Hold.
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10/11/2023 - Thomas D Likes this wine: 92 Points
deep dark ruby purple color; nose of cherry and blueberry; medium body; plum , cinnamon, leather and graphite flavors; smooth tannnins; nice finish. very enjoyable
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9/23/2023 - Canoehead Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnPd; clean cork. Dark garnet with crimson rim. A ripe, macerated berry attack on the nose. Seems primary still. A touch less rustic and more elegant on the palate. Decent balance - a tad hot. There's quality here but an unexpected short finish.
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9/8/2023 - motuski Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had side by side with a 2013 Penfolds Bin 389 and 2013 Penfolds. St Henri Shiraz
TN: Dark fruit, purple and opaque. Well-made and tannins still present but a less grippy then before
Comparison with others: Clearly the Cab in the blend, provides the structure which I thought that the St Henri, while still beautiful, had less of. The 2013 Bin 389 was more open with smoother tannins, but after two hours of airing the 2018 opened up nicely.
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8/31/2023 - Brolawa wrote:
C1. Big and Jammy. Tumble Creek
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8/7/2023 - Es7e2003 Likes this wine: 91 Points
See previous notes. Plum, cassis, chocolate and pepper. Good balance yet still too rich for my taste.
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6/19/2023 - nordbeckjk wrote: 92 Points
Tasted very good. A rich dense wine that will age well.
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6/18/2023 - Chied Likes this wine: 94 Points
As expected, this wine has really improved since last year! Excellent!!!
Cheers!
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6/8/2023 - red freddy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Received a partial bottle from my Oenophile neighbor.
14.5% abv
57% Cabernet Sauvignon; 43% Shiraz
Both spouse and I had a half glass with dinner. Deep opaque Purple in the glass. Prominent nose of Cherry, Blackberry & Cassis. Smooth on the palate; Big, Bold and Lush with notes of graphite (pencil lead) and tobacco. Tannins come to the fore, leaving a fuzzy feeling on the tooth, but there is some lingering sense of harshness. Ample acidity for a pleasantly tart, lingering finish.
As noted by some in prior tasting notes, Good now, but should be Great with additional cellaring.
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6/7/2023 - Evanbdavis wrote: 95 Points
A very good vintage of 389! The nose is dense and packed with dark mulberry jam, pastry crust, nutmeg, lavender, licorice, sweet mint and violets. The palate echoes the nose nicely, but hoists up graphite and some cherry tobacco. Tannins are suave, velvet, and melt in your mouth while the superb concentration of fruit remains focused but not overdone. It is however, as with most Penfolds wines save the St. Henri, fairly lavish and generous in style. But the sheer power of the fruit in this blend more than merits the somewhat obvious oak regimen, and the wine wears it with shine, sophistication, and class. Outstanding.
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5/29/2023 - wmccone54 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted prior to dinner; it took about 45 minutes for this to open. Perfect with the smoked, pulled pork shoulder, potato salad and macaroni salad. Unfurls with pungent violets, noticeable pencil lead, spicy black currant, juicy blackberry, ripe black cherry, chewy black licorice, creamy vanilla, and oak spice, underscored with emerging bacon fat, black pepper, taut leather, and crunchy earth. Full bodied mouthfeel. Seems to be in the early stages of development. Structural components are present, but it needs more time to completely come together. Strong finish. Drink now with food and decanting or hold and drink through 2033+ .
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5/29/2023 - john thorne wrote: 89 Points
There's really no excuse for opening this bottle so young. Little on the nose when it was first opened, dark purple, initially red fruits, cherry and blackcurrant, but a lack of balance of tannins at the moment. A big wine. Day two slightly softer but still very strong with too much acidity. I will try to wait another five years.
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5/26/2023 - bugdoced wrote: 88 Points
new world all the way
musky syrah on the nose [sorry, shiraz]
needs more developmental time
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5/10/2023 - rocknroller wrote: 89 Points
Very dark red/purple color. Small glass off reserve pairing list Travail. CS57, S43. Very young, high toned, ripe, oak, blackberry, mulberry, tart and woodsy with a youthful green streak. Needs time. 88 to 89 now.
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4/1/2023 - Clark W Griswold Likes this wine: 85 Points
Double decant. I really didn't care for this. Too over the top for me. Tastes like a strong boozy cocktail that resembles red wine.
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3/22/2023 - ashishnag Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Meh, I fee like I am extra sensitive to kind of over extracted fruity bombs and I got high alcohol and extraction here. will pass on more of these
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2/23/2023 - jrbates68@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Whilst this was a nice enough blend, it wasn't the gob-smacking delight I had been expecting. I've certainly had better Cab/Shiraz blends for a lot less (eg. Jim Barry PB).
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2/17/2023 - onlywilson wrote: 93 Points
Nose of black cherry, black pepper, eucalyptus, and spice. Palate very similar. Medium to high tannin with enough acidity for balance. Outstanding with steak and potatoes.
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12/19/2022 - owurman Likes this wine: 80 Points
Better than the average Penfold's we had in their tasting room. Would pay $20-$30
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11/24/2022 - cephomer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pulled from the cellar by accident last nite, and popped and poured (thought it was a much older bottle). Aromas of eucalyptus, mint and cherry liquor. Deep ruby/violet color. This wine is on the young side, though not particularly tannic. Plenty of red and black fruit here, with a mineral, almost limestone mouthfeel. Spicy, smoky, a bit oaky, and on the hot side (14.5%).
Not my usual style of wine but I enjoyed this Aussie blend (57% cab, 43% shiraz). I'd put this aside for 5 years at least, and decant
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10/29/2022 - camjvine Likes this wine: 96 Points
Gorgeous wine matched perfectly with a rib eye medium rare.
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10/27/2022 - Es7e2003 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Inky purple with some garnet hues. Cherry liqueur, blackberry and coconut. Medium acidity and high tannins. Medium plus finish.
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10/8/2022 - Srabkin90 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another Australian wine courtesy of Penfolds. Decanted for 80 minutes.
Med intensity nose of dark fruit, oak and smoke. Initial sips were plum, tobacco and cocoa. This one really opened up beautifully. On the palate, chocolate, tobacco, plum and baking spice. Layered and complex with a long, lingering finish of black pepper and tobacco.
Med+ bodied, grippy chocolate tannins, perfectly dry and with balanced acidity. This one was easy drinking and delightful.
This is another great Australian. Very good.
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10/8/2022 - dizzydd Does not like this wine:
Waxy. Tannic. Try again in a couple of years
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10/1/2022 - Richg789 wrote: 92 Points
Wine of the night. Cherries on Cherries. Long finish.
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10/1/2022 - JohannesGlugla Likes this wine: 92 Points
Strong cherry, quiet acid. Lots of cherry. Nice wine
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9/24/2022 - mkribar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Red fruit nose, eucalyptus, clay, some mint, blackberry, bing cherry. Harsher tannin than the bin 600, as well as some stronger tannin. This comes across as much brighter--and it will get much better with time. I could easily see this as a 20-30 year wine. If I had to guess the cabernet this year was extra Coonawarra heavy. This would be quite good now with a long decant, but has a lot of upside as well. Year after year, this is my favorite of the Penfolds range.
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9/9/2022 - Dagman Likes this wine: 90 Points
A good wine but I had trouble with this being any more than an average offering. I might need to lay down for longer.
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9/4/2022 - Odedis.Wine.reviews Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep Inky in color with a short purple rim.
Dry and very fruity on the palate.
Showing black currants, cooked plums, figs, earth, cedar, leather, chocolates, tobacco, licorice, vanilla, spices and peppercorn.
Fruit forward with medium acidity.
Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Rich and extracted. Showing nice complexity with a strong nose.
This delicious "baby Grange" is starting to drink nicely now. Still young, and would be better in 5 years. Will age nicely in the next 15 years.
Wine Spectator 92 points. Robert Parker 93 points.
Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime, which I did not have, as it finished way too quickly.
I had the 2017 a couple of years ago, and liked it even better, even though the 2018 was a better vintage.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with a nice piece of steak.
A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 43% Shiraz.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$70.
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9/3/2022 - motuski Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still tannic. And beautiful!
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8/29/2022 - Chied Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent!!! Tannins are still a bit up front, looking forword to an even better showing next year!
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7/31/2022 - der Schmecker Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful wine! Fresh, good acidity - not too much, with the lift of Cabernet Sauvignon and the depth of Shiraz, not a sweetness but a brightness, a wine to drink anytime, with or without food. Hits 'the spot'!
Drinking this July 2022 in Florida, 78 degrees F room temperature and it's lovely. Bravo Penfolds!
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7/30/2022 - andrewboychurch Likes this wine: 92 Points
NOTE: anything I think fits prestige wine status I rate at 90+ ie could be anything 90~100. Been out of the loop for 30 yrs when I was playing with 1982 Bordeaux.
Looking a more and more attractive and complex Penfolds 389 over a ‘Coravin Month’. I grew up with it when it was cheap, I preferred aged Kalimna Bin 28 seemed more like an advanced aged Grange. But now because of price I pay more attention, notice the oak, the Penfolds red, and is that a hint of ‘mint’? Something nice and lifted that may develope in time, a very different path to the 2017 Grange which I am tasting at the same time.
I have not entered notes for the 2017, it’s Grange! I’ll make notes when I get the 2018
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7/26/2022 - DrNorm Likes this wine: 91 Points
F and B
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7/8/2022 - Bob23 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Best on night one, oddly. The oak became more pronounced, not less, after air.
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6/5/2022 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Ripe, concentrated, and sappy. Shows a berry driven profile with olive and creamy oak mixed in. Palate is rather soft and velvety at this stage. While tannins are present they are rather wrapped up in the considerable layers of fruit. On the simple side for the price. Given the history and producer I’d say hold—without that track record I wouldn’t be an confident in aging.
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6/1/2022 - jaleung Likes this wine: 95 Points
Very inky and dark purple colour. I feel there is a bitterness in the early pour which went away after a couple of weeks (was on the Coravin). More rounded later with softened tannins and dark chocolate notes on the palatte. Subtle smoke, perhaps leather. Great length.
Can see how ageing in Grange barrels imparts a subtle Grange signature in the 389.
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5/12/2022 - BaronsPaw Likes this wine: 92 Points
Some of the most legitimately "smoky" wine I've ever had; almost tastes like liquid firewood. A little shocking at first, but good in its own way. Deep fruit comes out more after sitting for a bit. Nice tannins without being too grippy. Quite nice despite its very unusual characteristics which is interesting and exciting to achieve.
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5/2/2022 - Tmurphrey Likes this wine: 93 Points
From a Coravin at Bacchus Restaurant in Grapevine, TX.
Big and bold, but approachable. Very dark color, full nose, a little spice and hints of Cabernet. Full throat finish. Probably better in a few years, but enjoyable now.
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3/29/2022 - mike_and_sal Likes this wine: 89 Points
Interesting - after taste reminded me of a cigar. Wasn’t our favorite
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3/28/2022 - R2-D2 wrote: 92 Points
Tasted Blind. Big and brooding, tannins so grippy that my lips went numb. Darker fruit, currant, smokey oak, eucalyptus. Lingering, chewy flavors. Feels/tastes opulent.
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2/19/2022 - Mapka1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Gave 1 hr decant. Wine is dark reddish/purple, dark fruits with little oak & graphite. The palate is big and bold, jammy with plenty of tannin's. Layers and good mouth feeling along with silky smooth finish. Overall excellent performance. Buy more and cellar for a year or two for more enjoyment.
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2/17/2022 - rhg Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cherry, dusty. A little hot.
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2/14/2022 - mgbucci wrote: 92 Points
Wine dark purple and opaque. The palate was as expected, big and bold, jammy with strong tannins. This is certainly a new world wine, but didn't come off as overly sweet like some Napa wines. Overall solid performance.
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2/4/2022 - Snoot Doggie Dogg Likes this wine: 93 Points
Master of Wine Konstantin Baum featured a sampling of Penfolds wine in one of his YouTube videos: the 2017 Penfolds Bin 2 Shiraz Mataro. He gave it quite a good review, saying it would be perfect for a holiday dinner as everyone at the table would like it. He also added that, due to its high alcohol content, if you do not like your relatives it can help you get through the evening. Certainly a bonus! This intrigued me, so I sought out some Penfolds at the nearest Total Wine & More. Maybe I should save some for when the relatives come over?
This particular bottle advertises itself as a wine in which “the structure and definition of Cabernet Sauvignon coupled with the richness and depth of shiraz align, courted by the Prudent use of American oak.” Evidently it combines wines from several different regions to include Barossa, McLaren Vale and others. Regarding the 2018 vintage, it states: “Relatively dry conditions coupled with near long-term winter/spring temperatures indicated an early start to the growing season… Warm and sunny weather prevailed throughout spring providing optimal conditions for flowering and fruit-set…Late flowering and the delayed onset of veraison throughout the south-east slowed harvest by a few weeks. The warm, dry weather carried into autumn, setting up an Indian summer with favourable conditions for ripening grapes.” So overall, from the sound of it one can expect big, bold fruit dominating this wine.
Somewhere between a deep ruby and a deep purple in color, this wine is strikingly aromatic and can be smelled even when the glass is sitting on the table. Indeed, it presents a rich nose full of red and black fruits, under which lie an interesting combination of cedar, forest floor and whiskey barrel with a subtle touch of vanilla extract. Upon sipping, one is met with a full-bodied wine with a supple body, medium acidity and beefy yet velvety tannins. The attack offers ample blackberry and black cherry flavors, which are soon joined in the midpalate by quite a bit of black pepper, black plum, and tobacco. These in turn lie over a substrate of oaky vanilla and an earthy note that as difficult to pinpoint. The finish goes on for days! It starts off with ephemeral notes of cocoa, after which the blackberry and black raspberry linger for quite some time, fading gradually into nothingness. After a few sips, a vague menthol character builds up in the finish. Eucalyptus, anyone?
Unfortunately my wife wanted nothing to do with this bottle. I guess I'm enjoying it on my own...oh darn.
This is wonderfully complex! A solid choice and I can see this wine ageing very well; it certainly has the tannin structure to support it. It is, however, quite drinkable right now. But for now, this is a beefy wine that needs your time and attention. Recommend sitting down with it and some aged gouda (I find Old Amsterdam is a good choice). Enjoy!
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1/26/2022 - mmilgate Likes this wine:
deep crimson colour
blackberry, blackcurrant, chocolate on the nose
Tasting gives cassis, chocolate, chinotto comes to mind, and oak.
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12/28/2021 - Angies Husband Likes this wine: 93 Points
2hr double decant. Nose of dark fruits, minerals, graham crackers, spices, and hint of menthol herbs. Full and fruit forward. Lovely fine tannin structure, well integrated.
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12/24/2021 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for two hours. Full-bodied and of course lavish, with finesse; there’s a solid middle and a long finish. Blackberries, dried cherries, antique shop, cherry wood, raspberry liqueur and crumbling rock. The finish shows fruit and rock, as there’s dimension and poise. No lack of flavor, but there’s an attractive staying power. This is quite young and will age well. Drink 2024 - 2036.
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11/1/2021 - WDK Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark purple. Not overly extracted. Sweet but well balanced with a long, delicious finish.
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10/24/2021 - GraffCellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tightly structured.
Still young.
But has all of the components when it comes together.
Deep purple.
Maturing back cherry, blackberry, plum, allspice, tobacco and cigar box notes.
Medium + acid, medium + tannins, high alcohol, full body, medium + finish. Still largely primary Cabernet varietal fruit flavors with secondary notes of vanilla, tobacco, allspice.
Very good quality wine.
May be consumed now with a fatty meal pairing, but will improve greatly in a few years.
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10/21/2021 - MC2 Wines wrote:
Penfolds 70th Anniversary of Grange Celebration (Eleven Madison Park): 53% Cab | 47% Shiraz aged in American oak. This is a big wine for sure. Blackberry, very round, fruit much more prevalent but towards the end you can get some of the Shiraz spice notes too. The wine that got me into wine, but I feel like this needs a lot of time to settle some.
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10/13/2021 - Stuart10er Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really nice. Cabernet totally takes over but the Shiraz balances it a bit for a more mellow wine. Need to try it again for sure
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10/12/2021 - Didier Jean wrote:
Error
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10/5/2021 - MCrawford wrote: 92 Points
Amazing wine!! All kinds of complex goodness even on first pour. The deep rich color as it poured into the decanter was beautiful. Should benefit from aging the next 5-10 years, but surprising approachable after an hour of air time. Nose has plum and currant fruit with cedar and tobacco under tones. Medium to full body on the palate. Would love to see this vintage pop up again on my wine feed.
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10/2/2021 - bweber79 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep ruby; medium plus intensity aromas; black plum, black currant, green bell pepper, licorice, thyme, sage, smoke, cedar, cigar box, blueberry, and black pepper; dry with medium acid, medium tannin, full body and high alcohol; medium plus finish; very good and complex; needs more time to integrate.
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9/8/2021 - PierreBrusso Likes this wine: 94 Points
Highly complex. Age a long time.
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9/3/2021 - Marckus wrote: 91 Points
Powerful nose, full bodied with some subtle tannins
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8/29/2021 - FrancoisC wrote: 90 Points
Rien d'épatant
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8/2/2021 - mpsocal Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent stuff, very fruity and tons of flavor.
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7/23/2021 - FlyPig Likes this wine: 92 Points
More wood than wine at this point, but a nice wine hides below the oak wall. Good cocktail wine at this point, hold 3-5 for it to develop.
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7/16/2021 - snaff wrote: 90 Points
Lots of vanilla oak, with stiff tannins. Nice rich blackberry undertones, but this wine needs to cellar for a couple years.
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7/2/2021 - TThompson1030 wrote:
👍🏻
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6/30/2021 - BergerKing Likes this wine: 90 Points
This went well with a BBQ burger and chicken wings. Well done down UNDA
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6/21/2021 - bucktooth22 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Opened in 2021. Long legs, strong plum, sweet cherry fragrance with light graphite. Medium sweet, full body, medium acidity, strong frontal grip tannins. Sour cherry finish. Tasted better after 1.5 hr decanting.
I tried same vintage with an aerator instead of decanting 1.5 hr — way worse. Fragrance was muted with graphite notes and much less red fruits.
[2nd bottle opened in August 2021] decanted for 1 hr. Fruit forward, red cherry aroma, light-to-medium legs. Medium dry, medium body, strong frontal grip tannins.
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6/19/2021 - red.red.vino wrote:
Another restaurant purchase and very different from what I recall 4 odd months ago. Oak much more in check this time around.
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6/15/2021 - RoyaltyCoins wrote: 92 Points
Deep ruby
Nose: Red flower, smashed black cherry, black pepper.
Mouth: Juicy cassis and black cherry glide through on a lightly glossy frame, introducing threads of rooibos tea, liquid violet, and a hefty dose of cracked pepper and loam toward the end of the midpalate. Finish holds that note, as the fruit comes back for a light encore and the bitter black tea pops at the end.
Overall: Midpalate feels a little hollow for what I expected here, but the overall quality is good. Keeps excellent freshness and drive throughout, and the tannins are nice and tame even now. Drink 2023 - 2035.
92.
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6/7/2021 - EMark wrote:
Dark fruit nose typical of a CS-heavy blend. Surprisingly gentle hit of dark berry--blackberry, blueberry--on the tip of the tongue. The Syrah content seems to stifle some other cabernet dimensions that I might normally see. On introduction there is a silky mouthfeel. However, as the wine moves to the rear tongue and the throat, tannin and acid are detected. A full-bodied wine that will benefit greatly from several more years of aging.
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5/12/2021 - OldHick95 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep purple color. Nose of this Cabernet (57) Syrah (43) blend is heavy on leather, dark chocolate and light cedar. Flavors of dark fruit and oak spice. I enjoyed the savory top notes of leather and chocolate that made this wine distinctive among a number of red blends sampled this night.
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3/5/2021 - mpsocal Likes this wine: 91 Points
Juicy wine with a good amount of oak. I enjoy the style but it’s not for everyone.
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3/3/2021 - Wine G Likes this wine: 90 Points
Collector1855 pretty much nails it. The wine is enjoyable, you can sense that american oak, has a silver-oak-esq-ness to it but more chocolaty, very new world and rich, but generic is a good way to put it. If I tried it Blind I would guess Washington state Cab. I see this as a crowd pleaser, something most people will enjoy.
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3/2/2021 - Collector1855 wrote: 91 Points
Penfolds dinner. Tastd next to the 2017 St.Henri which was a bit more soft and plush. In the 289 we can feel the additional acidity and structure the Cabernet brings. The wine is good but feels a bit unspecific, commercial. In any case, I am not a big fan of Cabernet/Syrah blends. I love both grapes but I don't think they make nearly as good as a blend as a Cab/Merlot or a GSM.
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2/13/2021 - motuski Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted young. Black fruit, oak and vanilla on the nose. Also detected some iron upon tasting. Reliable quaff - wonder how this will taste a few years out when the fruit mellows.
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2/12/2021 - red.red.vino wrote: 87 Points
Restaurant purchase. Too much oak for me, pass.
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12/26/2020 - OdeVin Likes this wine: 94 Points
Amazing baby Grange. Opened by mistake as a Bin 138 was the designated one for the evening. So concentrated with black berries, cherries, chocolate, very acidic and intense tannins but still so delicious after a few hours in the decanter.
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11/26/2020 - Leinike Likes this wine: 92 Points
Strong fruit, a bit alcoholic, strong tannins...great with steak
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11/23/2020 - Psdycp wrote: 91 Points
Compared to the 2017 vintage, this vintage is more approachable, open and offers sweeter black and blue fruits upfront. Initially nose can almost be described as too simple and fruity. Give this an hour in the decanter, layers of black pepper, roasted vanilla beans and star anise shine brightly on the nose. The palate again offers the same profile as the upfront sweet fruit and spicy nose. It is rich, fresh and penetrating at the same time. Texture is already quite polished though. Full-bodied and extremely lively presentation where all elements jump out of the huge structure to show their presence. Transitions to the long and alcoholic finish is rather abrupt. This is definitely louder and friendlier than the 2017 vintage, somewhat like the 2016 but with higher energy and openness to impress. This will be a popular wine for many, at least when it is drank young where it is still very aromatic and fruity. However, I am not sure if this will age and develop more depth and finesse as well as the 2017 vintage. If you like the full throttle Cabernet or Shiraz, drink this with an hour of decanting. Otherwise don’t touch it for another 3 years for the wine to achieve better balance. 91-92 pts
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9/17/2020 - bubbachumps wrote: 93 Points
Billiet's A**tastic Aussie's (Billiet's Bordelo): Dark fruits and a piney menthol action on the nose. Really classy on the palate, a decent undergird of acidity. Beautiful flavor profile. A decent finish but cut off a tad short. Still a very nice wine! Finished 4 out of 6.
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9/8/2020 - bobh22314 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Purple to the rim. Lots of black fruit. Seriously tannic to a medium finish. Leave for at least 2 to 3 years
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