Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Penfolds

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97p by Pekka Nuikki / Editor of the Fine Wine Magazines and Champagne Magazine
94p by Pekka Nuikki / Editor of the Fine Wine Magazines and Champagne Magazine
94p by Tuula Hällström
18p by Jancis Robinson MW / BWW2024/Best Wine Critic of the World
98p by Ken Gargett
97p by Huon Hooke / BWW2024 Finalist
97p by Andrew Caillard MW / BWW2024 Finalist

Tasting note

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Written Notes

There are not many multi-regional Cabernets which sit at the very pinnacle of the variety, but 707 has always been there. Fruit from McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, Wrattonbully, Robe and Adelaide Hills, it sees 18 months in new American oak hogsheads.

Opaque purple colour. The immediate impression, at this very early stage, is that the oak is still dominating, but oak of such quality. Through it soon emerge notes of cedar, blackfruits, chocolate, spices, rich chocolate cake almost verging on suggesting this wine is more like a Cabernet dessert. Focused, balanced and extremely long, this is a cracking Cabernet. A wine for twenty to thirty years. 97.

A day later, even more impressive. Real persistence, serious concentration and yet a wine of even more finesse than it first seemed. 98.

- Ken Gargett

Bin 707 is a perfect Cabernet Sauvignon representation of Penfolds' house style: intensely flavoured fruit; completion of fermentation and maturation in new oak; expressing a Penfolds understanding of multi-vineyard, multi-region fruit sourcing. Bin 707 was first vintaged in 1964. The wine was not made from 1970 to 1975 (when fruit was directed to other wines) nor in 1981, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2011 or 2017 (when fruit of the required style and quality was not available). Full-bodied and with proven cellaring potential. Blend of McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, Wrattonbully, Robe and Adelaide Hills fruit. TA 7 g/l, pH 3.5. Aged for 18 months in American oak hogsheads (100% new). A relatively dry winter and spring, coupled with slightly above-average temperatures, indicated an early start to the growing season. A spell of cold weather during budburst slowed vine phenology by approximately 10–14 days but climatic conditions for flowering and fruit-set were optimal in all regions. Summer was warm, with the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra all experiencing heat spells greater than 35 °C in January with below-average rainfall. Late flowering and onset of veraison delayed harvest by a few weeks, a pattern also reflected in Wrattonbully and Robe. The Adelaide Hills had a very dry finish to summer and an unseasonably warm autumn, ensuring Cabernet Sauvignon achieved ample ripeness with good levels of flavour and intensity. 'Overall, an exceptional vintage for Cabernet Sauvignon with strong varietal expression across each sourcing region.'
Extremely luscious – particularly in contrast to Bin 169. Like melted blackcurrant pastilles with an overlay of an Australian summer. Great balance and drive but very sumptuous. The fruit is already dominating the tannins – which are notable. Very Penfolds and a success!

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

(2018; up to AUD $650 from AUD $500 in 2017) is a statuesque wine that is stylistically closer to Napa Valley than Bordeaux. Again, I could enjoy it now, but it would be crazy to open it now if you’re spending that kind of money. As with Grange, it makes no sense to drink them too young. You’d fail to enjoy these wines at their full potential.

- Huon Hooke / BWW2024 Finalist

Deep crimson. Elegant blackcurrant, black olive, graphite aromas with meaty, vanilla, mocha notes. Supple and well-concentrated with attractive blackcurrant, blackberry fruits, fine graphite/ touch al dente tannins and plentiful mocha, espresso oak notes. Finishes muscular/ chewy /cedary firm and minerally. A very polished wine with lovely fruit density and torque. Seal; Cork, Drink 2028 – 2048 14.5% alc 97 points

The alter-ego of Grange with marvellous varietal definition, complexity, volume and drive.

McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, Wrattonbully, Robe, Adelaide Hills

18 months in 100% new American oak hogsheads

- Andrew Caillard MW / BWW2024 Finalist

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