PENFOLDS BIN 389 CABERNET SAUVIGNON / SHIRAZ 2022

Winery notes (2022 Vintage)
"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. Exemplifying the judicious balance of fruit and oak, Bin 389 highlights the generous mid-palate Penfolds is known for.

An “old school” Penfolds nose; a classic and comforting homage to our storied past. It opens with the rich, deep tones of mahogany and the refined scent of a cigar box. Sweet oak spices are neatly interlaced with a dusty character. This foundation is lifted by summer berries, offering a balance between richness and vitality. Baking spice is present alongside tart red currant and cranberry, while the aroma of fresh pastries rounds out the note.

The palate is immediately enveloped by cocoa powder-like tannins — smooth yet profound in their impact. The wine boasts volumes of Cabernet character, showcasing cool fruits that are well lifted and vibrant. A barrel ferment nuance adds depth without overshadowing the fruit’s purity. Sourdough notes bring a rustic edge which complement the lush profiles of plum fruits, blackberry, mulberry, wild cherries and more distinctly tart morello cherries."

98/100 Andrew Caillard MW (2022 Vintage)
"2022 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz lives up to its reputation as the second wine to Grange. The wine is superbly refined, generous and chocolatey and will cellar for years to come. In many respects it is the quintessential Penfolds wine offering drinkers the best of craftsmanship, multi-regional sourcing and style."

95/100 Tyson Stelzer (2022 Vintage)
"The great 2022 season has delivered a Bin 389 of impact and presence. The depth and breadth of supple black and red fruits of shiraz is melded seamlessly with the blackcurrant and firm, fine tannin profile of cabernet sauvignon and not insubstantial presence of sweet, dark chocolate American oak. A strong framework of firm tannins sets classic Bin 389 endurance. Another one for the ages."

95/100 Jeni Port, WinePilot.com (2022 Vintage)
"We have seen Bin 389 shine brightly in fab years, but it is in years like 2022 when the weather Gods run amok and are unpredictable, that Bin 389 is tested. It comes through, as ever, comfortably, assuredly, warmly, like settling back into an old comfy leather chair. Evocative aromas of earth, old leather, woodsy spices galore, black fruits and signature American oak pencil shavings, cigar box, the oak being a little more evident than usual. Mellow, full flavoured, Bin 389 ’22 returns to that kind of down-home or unpretentious character that we love; it has nothing to prove, everything to gain as it impresses with the essence of South Australian Cabernet (51%) and Shiraz (49%) from five regions lead by McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and the Barossa Valley. Defined by a density of black fruits, liquorice, spice, underlined by fine, confident oak tannins and supported by bright acidity. A kiss of coffee grounds, cocoa brings a lifted spark with an added hint of crushed herbs. Another strong Bin 389, classic in definition and execution."

95/100 Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, July 2024 (2022 Vintage)
"This is a commanding Bin 389. It’s svelte and smooth but the penetration of the finish, meshed with tannin as it is, is right up there. Bay, blackcurrant, vanilla, licorice and sweet, plump plums create a deep, rich impression, though it all comes with sinew and it all comes with bone. It’s a familiar flavour profile but this 2022 release is really well formed, and executed. There’s flavour, there’s flex, there’s class."