Penfolds : Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2016

The unique style and balance of a great Australian wine

An iconic wine from Penfolds, Bin 389 is often referred to as "Baby Grange". This great Australian red wine is matured for 12 months in 300 litre barrels of American oak that contained the previous vintage of Grange.

It was in 1960 that Max Schubert produced the first vintage of the Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz with the aim of creating a wine that would combine the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon and the richness of Shiraz.

Born from a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Shiraz, the Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2016 is made from grapes from 5 different wine regions in Southern Australia: the Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, McLaren Vale , Padthaway and Wrattonbully.

This 2016 vintage was characterised by dry and relatively cool weather, which favoured a steady ripening of the fruit and beautiful aromas in the latter.

At the tasting, the Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2016 displays a beautiful garnet colour. Intense aromas spring forth from the glass, revealing the luscious black fruit so typical of good Australian Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. These primary aromas of fruit are followed by touches of soy sauce and sesame, as well as wet forest floor and mushrooms. Subtle woody notes attest to expertly done oak ageing. On the palate, the wine evolves an ample structure, while maintaining a great finesse. The lively acidity of the vintage brings about a mouthwatering sensation on the palate, while mineral notes of pencil lead lend a certain elegance to the finish. This Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2016 can be enjoyed from 2020 onwards, while also boasting a fantastic potential for age, up to 2046, evolving great complexity over time in the bottle.