Penfolds Bin 169 2018 Penfolds

Latest Pro-tasting notes

<10 tasting notes

94p by RICARDO GIL
95p by Pekka Nuikki / Editor of the Fine Wine Magazines and Champagne Magazine
97p by James Halliday / BWW2024 Finalist
16.75p by Jancis Robinson MW / BWW2024/Best Wine Critic of the World
95p by Ken Gargett
96p by Andrew Caillard MW / BWW2024 Finalist

Tasting note

color

Youthful, Cherry Red and Clear

ending

Long

flavors

Cranberry, Plum, Toasty, Cedar, Earthy and Balsamic

nose

Intense and Complex

recommend

Yes

taste

Average in Acidity, High alcohol content, Medium tannin, Well-structured, Developing, Medium-bodied, Fresh, Fruity and Dry

Verdict

Excellent

Written Notes

100% Coonawarra, which has seen 18 months in French oak hogsheads, half of which were new.

Having indulged in a bit of Cabernet bashing with the 407, it is great to be able to change tack. This is a cracking Cabernet. For me, everything good Cabernet can and should be. Tight, coiled, still very youthful but brimming with promise. A mix of red and black fruits, cassis, mulberry, touches of dark chocolate, high quality chocolate, raspberries. Coffee beans and tobacco leaves. An impressively structured wine, classic, with balance and concentration. Some lovely chocolate sweetness emerged towards the finish. A wine with a big future. 94.

24 hours later, it had emerged from the chrysalis (forgive me, but the mention of silkworms has sent me down paths of thought unintended) and was showing more richness, concentration and deeper flavours. A roast meat, beef stock note was developing, together with strawberries and cherries. 95.

- Ken Gargett

Good looking normal size bottle and in an perfect condition. Colour is cherry red, and looking clear and youthful. On the nose it is intense and complex. The taste is fruity, fresh, and dry, high alcohol content, with medium tannin, and average in acidity, medium-bodied, with well-structured structure and developing. On the palate it is layered and has plum, chocolate, cedar, balsamic, earthy, toasty and cranberry flavours. The finish is long. This wine is excellent. I paid around 100-200€ a bottle. Perfectly stored bottles are still very worthy and will last well for another 20-30 years and decant at least 30min before tasting. Too expensive for quality. I do recommend.

- RICARDO GIL

A purist’s cabernet, turning its face on the mastery of the regional blending, the birthmark of the Penfolds red wine style. Vive la difference. Tannin is the heartbeat here, cassis and olive tapenade wrapped around the tannin, not vice versa. 14.5% alc, cork 97 points, drink to 2043, $360

- James Halliday / BWW2024 Finalist

For some reason there are no notes about this wine in the lavish booklet that accompanies the launch of the Penfolds Collection 2020 but this is what Peter Gago has to say about it in a press release: 'The Cabernet stable broadens this year with the sixth release of Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet, a contemporary 2018 expression of Cabernet which is released only in exceptional years. This 100% Cabernet dutifully puts its hand up to help champion the region. Vying for Bin 707 quality fruit, its Coonawarra badge and French oak lodgings hold sway. Built differently, dressed differently ... Aged for 18 months in French oak, which apparently illustrates the company's 'ongoing search for diversity and style separation'.
Veering Napawards in style on the nose ... though it's drier on the finish than any luxury California Cabernet is likely to be. Hint of blackberry fruit and still quite youthful plus a tiny bit of mintiness. For once I'm aware of the alcohol – unusual for wines in this Penfolds Collection 2020. Tannins quite insistent on the end. Just a tiny bit skinny. Nose and palate not quite integrated at present.

- Jancis Robinson MW / BWW2024/Best Wine Critic of the World

Deep crimson. Fresh blackcurrant roasted chestnut vanilla marzipan aromas with hints of sage/ aniseed. Lovely pure blackcurrant, blackberry, dark cherry fruits, fine grainy tannins. Lovely mid-palate density and plentiful mocha roasted chestnut oak. Finishes gravelly firm, sweet and long with a tannin plume. Beautiful wine with lovely concentration, volume, oak balance and mineral length. Keep for a while. Seal; Cork, Drink 2025 – 2045 14.5% alc 96 points

A classic Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon showing marvellous purity of fruit and regional expression. A wine that promises so much more with further cellaring.

18 months in 50% new and 50% seasoned French oak hogsheads

- Andrew Caillard MW / BWW2024 Finalist

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