2019 Penfolds, Bin 389, Cabernet Shiraz, Australia

Bin 389 is often considered a “baby Grange”, with some of the wine matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. It demonstrates Penfolds’ masterful balance of fruit and oak.  

One of the wines I eagerly await to taste from the Penfolds portfolio, year on year, is the Bin 389 – a.k.a. ‘The Baby Grange’. As expected, the nose is delightfully ripe and expressive. It has layers of succulent, sweet fruits: red cherry and blackcurrants are joined by subtle, savoury hints of cured meats and tapenade. The palate is luscious and initially a touch spicy, with incense and liquorice present, toasted oak, vanilla and sweet berry fruits. The longer it’s left, more of the Cabernet fruit comes through, with a striking menthol/eucalyptus tone to the mid-palate. A dash of wet earth and smoke define the lengthy finish, with well-integrated, slightly chewy, chalky tannins providing a neat framework to this excellent effort. Superb.

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Dominic Goddard-John, Private Account Manager