In the glow of the superlative 2010 season, my high praise for last year’s Penfold’s release (
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A vibrant and fruit-focused blend of fragrant appeal and spicy, peppery interest. Tangy berry compote fruit and firm, fine tannins open up in time to impressively lifted violet top notes, ultimately finishing somewhat short and simple. 89% shiraz and 11% mataro from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Padthaway, matured in older American oak hogsheads […]
readAfter purchasing Bin 128 in the late 1990s, I’ve never quite come to terms with the label since it switched to an earlier release style. Way too young, it opens shy, with subtle gamey and charcuterie notes and firm, finely textured tannins. As time passes, it shows reluctant flickers of the potential wrapped in its […]
readA brand new Bin, intended to fill the gap as 407 and 707 ascend into the price stratosphere. It’s an elegant, bright and lively style of pretty rose bud aromas and morello cherry tang. Crunchy redcurrants and leaf define a tightly coiled palate, a little shy on length and depth for the price. A blend […]
readDespite an ever-growing family of Penfold’s Bins under Bin 138, this is where the Bin series first gets serious. 2012 has given birth to a great 138, a wine of even flow, impressive fruit line and length, lively acid poise and firm, finely textured tannins that will mature long and even. It’s at once restrained […]
readA savoury and structured style, edgy and firm, with tangy acidity thrust against a wall of firm, fine oak tannins. Beetroot and sour morello cherry fruit has integrity, yet lacks the strength to withstand 8 months in 52% new French oak. Wild fermented with 10% whole bunches. Available 6 March 2014.
readA Bin 311 of impressive poise and power, considered by Chief Winemaker Peter Gago to be one of the more generous under this label. Intense fruit concentration of lingering white peach and pure grapefruit is well balanced by finely honed mineral structure intrinsic to this lofty region. Subtle hints of charcuterie derive from fermentation and […]
readA lesser Bin 28, a wine of apparent tannin structure and lively, cool season acidity, conspiring in a firm, slightly astringent finish. Already quite secondary in its development, meaty, gamey, spicy and savoury, with lingering flavours of pan juices and dried herbs, set against a backdrop of firm, fine tannins. A blend of McLaren Vale, […]
readBin 8 endeavours to fill the gap as the price of 389 inflates, though it’s not half the wine. A fragrant leaf, redcurrant and cedar bouquet opens into violet perfume in time. The palate is bright, lively, firm and finely structured, with tangy, leafy cabernet fruit taking the lead amidst grippy tannins and sour acidity, […]
readA lesser Bin 389, though testimony to the power of blending to rescue a difficult season, with almost the entire production of what would have been Bin 707 in the blend. This is a Bin 389 of structure, elegance and vibrancy more than flesh. The bouquet leads out closed, slowly opening into subtle, tangy red […]
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