I used a Durand to open it, and while the cork started to crumble during the process, the seal remained intact within the bottle. To my surprise, the wine revealed a deep pink hue and impressive clarity, defying my expectations of the typical brick redness found in 30-year-old Aussie wines.
Given that these wines can fade quickly, I opted to taste it soon after pouring, without decanting. A bit of aeration in the glass brought the wine to life, showcasing a vibrant battle between red plum fruits and savory aromas, including notes of liquorice and eucalyptus. After about an hour, the nose took on a more "gamey" character.
The flavor profile was truly delightful, boasting plenty of black fruit accompanied by hints of chocolate and a strong presence of tertiary elements like mushrooms and chewy meat. This well-rounded wine was perfectly balanced, tasting fresh and lively with an enduring savory finish. Iconic Penfolds holding up well. Great experience with this bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red with no bricking. Excellent bottle, still youthful. Cork still ok, but 98% soaked. Neither sommelier nor I could find the Shiraz in the bottle's ocean of CS. Beautiful and rich, intense and elegant, with those beautiful Oz red earth aromatics. Distinctly amazing wine with even more to give.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Penfolds 389 1993 is a beautifully aged wine with a rustic color that is indicative of its time spent maturing. Although the cork was unfortunately subpar, the wine itself was quite delightful. The texture was soft and velvety, and the finish was excellently long. Enjoyed in the picturesque Southern Highlands, this wine was a perfect companion for a relaxing evening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I saw some favorable recent reviews of this wine so I pulled this out to try. My experience was not that positive. Slight, plummy nose. The fruit is distinctly faded, plums, currants. Good acidity, decent balance. It's a bit hot. Short, undistinguished finish, Definitely seen better days. Lends credence to the old saw that, with older wines, there are no great wines just great bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.
8/26/2023 - Rupert wrote: flawed
A line-up of 1993s (The Briars): Oxidised
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2023 - gparker777 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I used a Durand to open it, and while the cork started to crumble during the process, the seal remained intact within the bottle. To my surprise, the wine revealed a deep pink hue and impressive clarity, defying my expectations of the typical brick redness found in 30-year-old Aussie wines.
Given that these wines can fade quickly, I opted to taste it soon after pouring, without decanting. A bit of aeration in the glass brought the wine to life, showcasing a vibrant battle between red plum fruits and savory aromas, including notes of liquorice and eucalyptus. After about an hour, the nose took on a more "gamey" character.
The flavor profile was truly delightful, boasting plenty of black fruit accompanied by hints of chocolate and a strong presence of tertiary elements like mushrooms and chewy meat. This well-rounded wine was perfectly balanced, tasting fresh and lively with an enduring savory finish. Iconic Penfolds holding up well. Great experience with this bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2023 - StefanAkiko wrote: 97 Points
Dark red with no bricking.
Excellent bottle, still youthful. Cork still ok, but 98% soaked.
Neither sommelier nor I could find the Shiraz in the bottle's ocean of CS. Beautiful and rich, intense and elegant, with those beautiful Oz red earth aromatics.
Distinctly amazing wine with even more to give.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2023 - Marbruck Likes this wine: 94 Points
The Penfolds 389 1993 is a beautifully aged wine with a rustic color that is indicative of its time spent maturing. Although the cork was unfortunately subpar, the wine itself was quite delightful. The texture was soft and velvety, and the finish was excellently long. Enjoyed in the picturesque Southern Highlands, this wine was a perfect companion for a relaxing evening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2020 - Charlie C Does not like this wine: 79 Points
I saw some favorable recent reviews of this wine so I pulled this out to try. My experience was not that positive. Slight, plummy nose. The fruit is distinctly faded, plums, currants. Good acidity, decent balance. It's a bit hot. Short, undistinguished finish, Definitely seen better days. Lends credence to the old saw that, with older wines, there are no great wines just great bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment