Penfolds 'Bin 389' Cabernet-Shiraz

Bin 389 is 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 to forge Penfolds solid reputation with red wine drinkers Combining the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon with the richness of Shiraz, Bin 389 also exemplifies the judicious balance of fruit and oak.   A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 43% Shiraz, this has a very impressively complete feel, a hallmark of the 2018 vintage wines, and there’s a myriad of characters with cabernet’s cedary and gently herbal notes sitting atop a core of rich red-plum and dark-berry Shiraz fruit aromas. So integrated. The palate has a very silky texture, so plush and polished with a wealth of rich and intense dark-plum, dark-berry and blackcurrant flavors. The oak is completely soaked with ripe, fresh fruit. This is a great Bin 389.   James Suckling: 97Pts; James Halliday: 96Pts; Decanter: 96Pts; Bob Campbell: 96Pts; Vinous: 93Pts; Robert Parker: 93Pts; Wine Spectator: 92Pts   Langton Classification: Outstanding (The best of Australian winemaking practices, vineyard provenance and regional voice)