Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2021 (Cork)
Penfolds
Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2021 (Cork)
.png)
Overview
Overview
Bin 389 was 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 forge Penfolds reputation with red wine drinkers by combining the structure of cabernet sauvignon with the richness of shiraz. Exemplifying the judicious balance of fruit and oak, Bin 389 highlights the generous mid-palate Penfolds is known for.
| Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Multi-Region Blend |
| Volume | 750 mL |
| Closure | Cork |
| Alc/Vol | 14.5% |
| Peak Drinking | 2025 – 2055 |
Awards and Accolades
Awards and Accolades
| 97 Points | Andrew Caillard MW |
| 97 Points | Ken Gargett |
| 97 Points | Ray Jordan |
| 19+/20 Points | Matthew Jukes |
| 96 Points | Tyson Stelzer |
| 96 Points | Jamie Goode |
| 96 Points | Jeni Port |
| 95 Points | Tina Gellie |
| 17+/20 Points | Jancis Robinson |
Andrew Caillard MW
"Deep crimson. Classical Bin 389 with intense blackberry, dark chocolate, mocha aromas and roasted almond, roasted chestnut, hint sesame nuances. Generous, smooth and velvety with ample blackberry, dark chocolate, roasted chestnut/ roasted walnut, grilled nut flavours, fine looseknit chocolaty tannins, beautifully integrated oak complexity and sinuous long fresh minerally saline acidity. Finishes velvety firm with a fine tannin plume. A superb vintage which will develop and improve further with bottle age. A keeper. Drink 2025 – 2045. 97 points."
Ken Gargett
"This is a truly great 389, perhaps the best ever. The Cabernet (53%) just dominates the Shiraz (47%). A blend of McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, Wrattonbully and Padthaway, the wine spends a year in American oak hogsheads, 37% new. Dark maroon in colour, the aromas include plums, mulberries, mocha, leather, tobacco leaves, dry herbs and hints of a freshly rolled cigar plus a touch of blueberries. There is finesse yet intensity, focus and direction, and balance. Great length and silky tannins. Notes of chocolate, licorice and blueberries emerge on the palate. A wine which lingers with intent suggesting ageing potential of twenty years plus. Wonderful stuff, the score that has every chance of going even higher. A cracker! 14.5% alc – 97 points"
Ray Jordan
"A wine of great generosity and power that is typical of this famous blend and bin. It’s from multi regions and typically has been matured in 100% American oak of which 37% was new. Plush dark fruits with hints of licorice, peppery savouriness and little of that crushed ants character that has been synonymous with this wine and its big brother Grange. There’s a delightful, sweet chocolate richness with plump ripe fruit evident. Has a rich compote of fruit character. Cellar: 30 years. 14.5% alc – 97 points"
Food Pairing
Food Pairing
Beef
Lamb
Duck
Veg
Taste Description
Taste Description
Nose
A kaleidoscope of aromas. First noted, sweet pastries. Blueberry danish and chocolate croissant. Sugar dusting. The fruits of the forest are quick to emerge, fresh blackberries and mulberries dominant. There is the faintest suggestion of formic acid, Max Schubert would approve. Dried bay leaf, pink peppercorns and black
cardamom add spicy intrigue. The imagination conjures thoughts of rare roast beef with black pepper crust, seared venison loin, coal dust, cocoa powder and
graphite. With a swirl, aniseed/licorice notes become pronounced.
Flavours and Palate
A flawless integration of the two varietals, neither dominating but working together in harmony. The aroma descriptors deftly match the palate. Flavours of black fruit and red fruit compote abound. Cocoa powder sweetness adds weight to the substantial mid-palate. There are plenty of savoury flavours to balance out the sweetness, with cold sliced salted beef, roast lamb cooking juices and cured pastrami. The tannins are fine, reminiscent of oolong tea, providing plenty of structure. The delicious fruit is married seamlessly with the creamy American oak. A fine seam of acid provides a refreshing lift on the finish.
Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking
Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking
South Australia
Home to the oldest vines in the country, and no less than 18 wine growing regions, South Australia accounts for almost 50% of Australia’s wine production. The Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek and Coonawarra are well known for their world class reds, with Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley and Eden Valley praised for their exceptional Chardonnay and Riesling.
Vintage Conditions
McLaren Vale enjoyed a relatively mild growing season. The Barossa Valley growing season was also relatively mild with long dry spells. Coonawarra, Wrattonbully and Padthaway in the Southeast all had a favourable start to the growing season. Except for a few wet days in February, the predicted La Niña conditions failed to materialise. Overall, the summer and autumn conditions were cooler than average, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and evenly. An outstanding vintage for both cabernet sauvignon and shiraz.
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.