x
  • Country ranking ?

    98
  • Producer ranking ?

    63
  • 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 ...

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Vintage 2017

AUSTRALIA VINTAGE REPORT: The 2017 winegrape crush is estimated to be 1.93 million tonnes, based on responses received by the Wine Sector Survey 2017. This crush is 5 per cent higher than the 2016 final crush figure of 1.84 million tonnes (Department of Agriculture and Water Resources – Levies recorded figure). It is the third consecutive vintage where the tonnes crushed have increased.

Additional tonnes this year came relatively equally fr...

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Latest Pro-tasting notes

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Written Notes

2017 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz ($100) - 389 is always one of the top wines of
the release and inevitably a contender for best value, even though it, along
with pretty much the entire range, has risen considerably in price in recent
years. Known, somewhat derisively, as 'Baby Grange', for years, it was
created by Max Schubert in 1960. There would be few serious cellars in
Australia without several vintages represented.

The '17 is 54% Cabernet and 46% Shiraz, from McLaren Vale, the Barossa,
Wrattonbully and Padthaway. It spent a year in American hogsheads, 29% of
which were new. Offers a delightful nose, ripe with intense chocolate notes,
cassis, vanilla pods, hints of cherries and dry herbs. The merest hint of
mint - I know that mint in wines can be divisive but here, I thought it just
one more factor adding to the complexity. Completely seamless with excellent
length and the finest of tannins. This is a really good wine, but if one
wished to be derogatory, you could say that it is not quite the match of the
2016. 96.

  • 96p

Like most of its siblings, is complex and compelling, the bouquet setting the scene, and the palate filling it. Black fruits, gently vanillan oak, superfine but persistent tannins are but the start.

  • 97p

Ruby. Blackberries, scented, violets, some spices, detailed nose, cassis, nuanced. Opens up nicely with more floral notes with air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, dark fruits and spices, elegant texture, detailed and layered, nuanced and long. Bright yet rich, long. 94

  • 94p
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Information

Origin

Magill, South Australia

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