Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley & South Australia 2018 Penfolds

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17.25p by Richard Hemming MW / BWW2024 Finalist
96p by Erin Larkin / BWW2024 Finalist
95p by Christer Byklum/ BWW2024 Finalist
97p by Ron Li Leung
97p by James Suckling / BWW2024 Finalist
96p by Valtteri Malmivirta
96p by Pekka Nuikki / Editor of the Fine Wine Magazines and Champagne Magazine
96p by Jeannie Bolt

Tasting note

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Written Notes

'Wine of USA 85.1%, Wine of Australia 14.9%' says the label, from Napa Valley and South Australia. Aged 16 months in French (80% new) and American (20% new) oak.
Syrupy blackcurrant fruit, dark chocolate and lots of violet too. The oak is much less overt than in the Bin 600. On the palate, the fruit is single-minded, uncompromising – it's New World Cabernet at its purest. Finely sanded tannins, dark chocolate on the finish, and plenty more complexity in waiting. (RH)

- Richard Hemming MW / BWW2024 Finalist

90.5p

This is a noticeable step up in quality. Very layered and complex, this is a deep, dark pool of flavour and texture. Density, concentration and rich, powdery tannins swirl in the glass, each holding onto the tail of the other, making discernment between them almost impossible. Tannins merge with fruit, which is tied up with acid, and so it goes again. Salted mulberry, poached raspberry, and aniseed; this is intense, dense, opulent. A very impressive wine.

- Erin Larkin / BWW2024 Finalist

Deep ruby. Rich, deep, intense, layered, floral, cassis, stunning nose, highly scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, detailed, layered, intense and deep, incredibly fruit driven and layered, some spices, deep and long. 95

- Christer Byklum/ BWW2024 Finalist

Lots of blackberry, currant, light chocolate and hazelnut. This is rather dense and plush, but shows impressive layers of tannins that have a rough-velvet texture. Juicy and intense fruit. The grapes come from the AVAs of Rutherford, Calistoga, Oakville and then spread across Napa. 14.9% comes from South Australia. A global wine. In the end, it’s nicely toned and curated. Needs three or four years to come together. Try after 2025.

- James Suckling / BWW2024 Finalist

Medium deep colour. Expressive dark cherry blackcurrant elderberry aromas with roasted chestnut notes. Densely concentrated and vigorous with pure inky dark cherry, cassis, dark chocolate flavours, perfectly balanced grilled nut/ vanilla oak complexity, fine plentiful al-dente tannins and underlying marzipan/truffle-like notes. Finishes gravelly firm with plentiful dark choco-berry fruits. A superb ultra-fine Cabernet Sauvignon taking Penfolds cross-country winemaking tradition into a brand-new era of discovery, imagination and enlightenment. Audacious, animated and complex with remarkable intensity, power and balance. 14.5% Alc Drink 2024-2038 98 points

16 months in new (80%) French and new (20%) American oak

- Andrew Caillard MW / BWW2024 Finalist

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