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Wine Description
The Story
1962 Penfolds Bin 60A Kalimna Shiraz, Coonawarra Cabernet is a legendary Australian wine. In a world where egos readily clashed, it unified wine critics and show judges. 1962 Bin 60A is Penfolds most successful show wine winning 19 trophies and 33 gold medal. It was a profound oenological, physical and philosophical achievement for its time. Still fresh and alive, it is a lasting model of Max Schubert’s groundbreaking winemaking practices and ideas of multi-regional, and cross varietal blending.
James Halliday, Australia’s leading wine author, gave 1962 Bin 60A the ultimate tasting note; “an utterly superb wine, a glorious freak of nature and Man; ethereal and beguiling, yet the palate is virtually endless, with a peacock’s tail stolen from the greatest of Burgundies; the fruit sweetness perfectly offset by acidity rather than VA. The 100 point dry red? Why not!”
The grapes were foot-crushed. Max Schubert fermented the wine in the classical Penfolds winemaking style using header boards and rack & returns. Towards completion of fermentation the wine was basket pressed and barrel fermented.
The fame of Bin 60A reached all corners of the globe. Max Schubert’s direct contemporary Andre Tchelistcheff (1901-1994), the founding father of the modern Californian Wine industry, once demanded of a room of startled Napa Valley vignerons; “Gentlemen you will all stand in the presence of this wine! Len Evans (1930 – 2006), who apparently brought that bottle to California. once described the wine as “one of the great reds I cut my palate on, and proved forever that the two varieties can blend beautifully together.”
1962 Bin 60A is the only Australian wine to reach Decanter Magazine’s Top 10 ranking “wines to try before you die.” Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator’s veteran Editor-at-Large said it is “one of the greatest wines I have tasted anywhere”.
1962 2/3rd Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon – Sharam’s Block & Block 20, - 1/3rd Shiraz – Kalimna Vineyards – original Shiraz blocks.
Fermentation / Stainless steel tanks with wooden header boards to submerge cap. Temperature maintained at less than 22o C. Daily rack and returns. Vinification took place at Magill and Nuriootpa.
Maturation / Fermentation completed in new oak. Blending of components took place at Magill. Approximately 15 months maturation in American oak hogsheads (300 litres)
Comments / The legendary 1962 Bin 60A is the most famous wine ever produced by Penfolds. Similar vintage conditions inspired Penfolds to make 2004 Bin 60A, an homage wine.
Wine Information
2004 Penfolds Bin 60A Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa Shiraz is a “select parcel” blend of Block 20 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, Koonunga Hill and Kalimna Vineyard Barossa Shiraz. The 1962-like vintage conditions in 2004 inspired the winemakers to recreate Max Schubert’s great wine. 2004 Bin 60A was vinified at Nuriootpa and Magill in open and closed headed down fermenters. The components completed fermentation in 100% new oak barriques before assemblage and bottling. 2004 Bin 60A, described as a wine “wrapped in a starless night sky” as a youngster, was initially released as a primeur or futures offer. It is still saturated in colour, powerful, dense and expressive with a long future ahead of it. Adelaide Advertiser’s Tony Love described it as “holding on to its inner truth.”