x
  • Country ranking ?

    91
  • Producer ranking ?

    53
  • Decanting time

    4h
  • When to drink

    2020-2035
  • Food Pairing

    Lamb

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The Story

Bin 389 is often referred to as ‘Poor Man’s Grange’ or ‘Baby Grange’, in part because components of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. First made in 1960, by the legendary Max Schubert, this was the wine that helped to build Penfolds solid reputation with red wine drinkers.

Combining the structure of Cabernet with the richness of Shiraz, Bin 389 also exemplifies Penfolds skill in judiciously balancing fruit and oak. 

Bin 389 is one of Australia’s great cellaring red wines.  First produced in 1960, its history is connected with the development of Grange and Max Schubert’s ambition of creating a ‘dynasty of wines which all bear an unmistakable resemblance to each other’.  

Named after its original binning compartment at Magill cellars, Bin 389 is the most popular wine in the Australian secondary wine market because of its heritage, consistency and reputation. 

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Tasting note

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Written Notes

Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2020 (A$100) – As ever, this iconic Aussie blend tips marginally to Cabernet dominance – 51%, as opposed to 49% for Shiraz. The famous Baby Grange, made since the 1960 vintage, even though Grange has never been a Cabernet dominant blend. The name comes from Penfolds’ habit of often using the barrels which once were home to Grange for components of this wine. Multi-regional, this is from McLaren Vale, Barossa and Padthaway. It spent a year in American oak hogsheads, a third of them new. It is, almost inevitably, a cracker. 

An opaque purple colour, the immediate impression is of a wine bursting with pent-up energy and power, which is still very much in its infancy. A wine which really does need the advantage of time – certainly, this is something we are seeing with the wines from 2020 and this is no exception. Intense, dark brooding black fruits, coffee beans, root vegetables, cloves, a light dusting of mocha, dry herbs and bay leaves. There is oak, but it has been sucked up by the fruit. Has some real grip and even though there are satiny tannins, there is also a firmness to the wine. Great length. Still very young and has a lot of improving ahead of it. Twenty years will not be a problem for this wine. A great 389? Perhaps not quite and not yet, but even at this early stage it is a very, very good one. Why wouldn’t you want a case of this in your cellar? 96.

  • 96p

Bin 389 was often referred to as ‘Baby Grange’, in part because components of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. First made in 1960 by the legendary Max Schubert, this was the wine that helped forge Penfolds` reputation with red wine drinkers by combining the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon with the richness of Shiraz. The 2020 is composed of 51% Cabernet and 49% Shiraz.

  • 96p

Deep crimson. Lovely blackberry, blackcurrant, dark plum aromas with roasted chestnut, chinotto, dark chocolate notes. Generously concentrated and beautifully integrated wine with plentiful blackberry, blackcurrant, fruits, fine slinky/ chocolaty, hint al dente/bitter-sweet tannins, superb mid-palate volume, some inky complexity, lovely mocha/ espresso oak notes and fresh long juicy acidity. Builds up claret firm with graphite minerally notes. Very impressive extract, density and torque. A reference Penfolds wine. McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley and Padthaway. 12 months maturation in American (33% new) and seasoned oak hogsheads Drink 2025 – 2038 14.5% alc 97 points

  • 97p

This wine is like sticking your nose over a fish bowl, there is not much to the aromas, maybe a hint of salinity detectable. Further inspection of what is in the glass the ocean of flavours awash over your palate like a current.  Palate tight red plums, raspberries, and high tannins. The palate is drying yet filled with jubey fruits at the same time. You can taste the weight of the cabernet like the visible fish in the fishbowl.  Finishing with a little fruit sweet vanilla sweet mocha. A vintage for the ages and cellar. 

  • 97p
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Information

Origin

Magill, South Australia

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