Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Penfolds
Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Overview
Overview
Created to reflect a contemporary winemaking approach, emphasising both regionality and maturation of cabernet sauvignon in fine grained French oak. A style that is immediately Penfolds, whilst simultaneously illustrative of its ongoing search for diversity and style separation. A classic reflection of the region and a testament of Penfolds longstanding commitment to the vineyards of Coonawarra.
| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Coonawarra |
| Volume | 750 mL |
| Closure | Cork |
| Alc/Vol | 14.5% |
| Peak Drinking | 2025 – 2050 |
| Winemaker | The Penfolds Team |
Awards and Accolades
Awards and Accolades
| 98 Points | Tony Love |
| 19+/20 Points | Matthew Jukes |
| 97+ Points | Erin Larkin, Robert Parkers Wine Advocate |
| 97 Points | Tyson Stelzer |
| 97 Points | Nick Stock, JamesSuckling.com |
| 97 Points | James Halliday, Wine Companion |
| 96 Points | Jeni Port |
| 95 Points | David Sly, Decanter Magazine |
| 95 Points | Andrew Caillard MW |
Tony Love | Winepilot
"Penfolds’ connections with the Coonawarra region are historic, yet never stuck in the past as house styles evolve to meet contemporary tastes. This cabernet leads the way in such a journey, showcasing varietal purity with its crimson berries and delicate offsets, manifest in pretty floral aromatics, mint leaf gels and the background waft of herb garden lavender, rosemary and thyme. Then weave in a lovely wave of French oak derived baking spice, which gently transitions into a layer of finely controlled tannins in the finish. A lively, energetic, youthful and expressive wine that translates to pure delicious pleasure. 98 points."
Matthew Jukes
"While I have just mentioned the word ‘Italianate’ regarding Magill, I was referring to the shape and size of the wine – a Tuscan demeanour. I want to use the word Italian here with a totally different meaning – this time spellbinding bitterness. Bin 169 is a magnificent creation and while it is reassuringly costly and usually takes much longer to soften than one might like, the tannins, acid, epic fruit and heroic length make this a staggeringly serious Cabernet. In fact, it is the finest and most acutely balanced Cab in this review (which says a lot). Bin 169 sits on a world stage with its refinement and sensationally fresh and active tannins, and this is a truly delicious vintage – 19+ points"
Erin Larkin | Robert Parker Wine Advocate
"Made only in appropriate vintages, and always from Coonwarra, the 2019 Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon is aromatically reticent at this stage, however the power of the fruit in the mouth in unassailable. It blossoms on the back palate and shows pedigree and impressive stature. This is a supremely elegant wine of poise and detail, couched in a framework of power and dense muscly tannin. We all have our preferences between Bin 707 and Bin 169, but for me, my heart has always been with the 169. I think Cabernet deserves an elegant casing, and that is made from French oak (17 months in French oak, 56% new, to be precise). This is pure, but far too young right now. We know this has decades of graceful development ahead of it – 97+ points."
Food Pairing
Food Pairing
Beef
Chicken
Lamb
Duck
Pasta
Veg
Spicy Food
Taste Description
Taste Description
Nose
Lifted and aromatic. Venture closer …
Beckoned by summer pudding red ripe fruits with a vapour spray of red raspberry jelly crystals, inducing childhood red frogs memories.
Courted by sage and bay leaf, and no doubt French oak, cinnamon and nutmeg spiced derivatives. Reminded very quickly of Coonawarra parentage by an ascent of ferric rust and brambled cabernet varietal mnemonics. Conceded aromatic captivation must be duly followed by a sip and ingestion…!
Flavours and Palate
Tight, fine and focussed. At this stage pre-release, much still to be resolved in bottle, yet fruits are immediately and brazenly revealed – red mulberry, red plums, persimmon. Endowed with a statuesque framework and definition yet leaving flavours alone… a touch of vanillin bean and Coonawarra red brick dust and chalkiness, and dare we say – limestone! Racy acidity needs to settle (as it will), yet the tannins are already relaxed – fine and silky … elongating ever so intriguingly on the back palate. Patience required, as is more often than not the want of Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon!
Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking
Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking
Coonawarra, South Australia
Coonawarra, on South Australia’s Limestone Coast, is a flat, isolated region almost mid-point between Adelaide and Melbourne. The area enjoys a cool maritime climate - similar to that of Bordeaux - and is renowned for its unique terra rossa soil. Rich, rust coloured soils… crimson sunburnt faces… magenta sunsets: this is red wine country! While Coonawarra is famous for its rich, minty Cabernet, the area also produces Shiraz and Merlot and surprisingly good Chardonnay and Riesling.
VINTAGE CONDITIONS
Coonawarra enjoyed winter rainfall 22% above the long-term average which set the vines up with good soil moisture profiles for the growing season. Spring temperatures were average to slightly above average, although September was the coolest month recording two sub 0° C events that saw our frost fans spinning into action. Spring and summer were very dry with only 76% of the long-term average rainfall recorded. Flowering to fruit set was long, taking 20 days for cabernet sauvignon. Coonawarra experienced 20 days of temperature greater than 35°C during the months of December to March. There was no significant crop loss due to heat and vine canopies remained in excellent condition through to the end of harvest. The proximity of the Great Southern Ocean mitigated the warm weather, with cooler nights providing respite and allowing for good flavour development. Cool and dry conditions in April were ideal to complete ripening with an orderly harvest delivering slightly below average yields of excellent quality grapes.
The Penfolds Team
Key to the success of Penfolds has been a lineage of visionary winemakers. There have only ever been four Chief Winemakers at the helm of Penfolds – Max Schubert, Don Ditter, John Duval and Peter Gago, each a custodian of a rich winemaking tradition that goes back for more than 170 years.
Our current Penfolds winemaking team has more than 100 years between them as Penfolds winemakers. They are constantly refining and improving their work, whilst honouring the winemaking techniques of their predecessors.