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Buy OnlineWinery notes (2023 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.
We are greeted by the wine’s hallmark bouquet, featuring an intricate blend of dark fruit aromas, with the richness of blackberries and the juicy depth of plums holding attention. These scents are complemented by notes of shaved dark chocolate and Black Forest cake. Hints of Portuguese custard and cinnamon sugar bring sweetness, while the exotic spiciness of pecan-infused hummingbird cake contrasts with the savoury notes of rosemary lamb. Undertones of aromatic dried herbs and a subtle hint of boot polish add depth to the profile. The influence of fine, toasty oak is present but discreetly folds into the fruit. An umami soy sauce character and the rich, cured flavour of bresaola round out the aromatic profile.
A thoughtful blend of varietals. The inclusion of Cabernet Sauvignon provides impeccable structure and depth. Supporting this foundation, Shiraz adds weight and warmth. Red fruits flood the palate, with vibrant flavours of red currant and tart cranberry. The sweetness of vanilla runs throughout the wine, while mouth-coating tannins create a rich, full-bodied texture. Savoury flavours of black olive emerge, accompanied by a blend of orange zest, fennel, and olive. Impeccable, fine tannins conclude the experience, leaving a lasting impression of both power and elegance."
96/100 Andrew Caillard MW, July 2025 (2023 Vintage)
"Deep crimson. Perfumed violet, praline, blackcurrant/ blackberry aromas with inky/ chinotto notes. Voluminous and sinuous with beautiful pure cassis, chinotto flavours, plentiful fine chalky al-dente tannins and well-balanced roasted chestnut/ marzipan/ vanilla notes. Builds up brambly firm at the finish. Lovely density, vinosity and flow."
96/100 Ken Gargett, WinePilot.com, July 2025 (2023 Vintage)
"Always a star of the Collection, year after year. The blend, as it almost always is, falls marginally in favour of Cabernet – 51% Cab to 49% Shiraz this time. The fruit hails from McLaren Vale, Padthaway and the Barossa Valley. Maturation is in American oak hogsheads for one year, one third of which are new. A triumph for the vintage. Opaque purple, this is lifted, generous and really rather exciting. Glorious aromatics, there are notes of plums, aniseed, tobacco leaves, dark chocolate, espresso, blackberries, coffee beans, with a touch of blueberries peeking through. Black pudding and chocolate mud cake may not sound like the most enticing combination, but here it works wonderfully well. Seamless in structure with bright energy and immaculate balance, this is very long. There is fine acidity here, and even finer tannins with a sleekness to them. Early complexity is very much evident, and we can expect that to really develop further in the coming years. Power, yes, but this is also effortlessly elegant. Delicious now, this will surely drink beautifully for the next fifteen years, considerably longer if you really do have the patience. Love it."
95/100 Jeni Port, WinePilot.com, July 2025 (2023 Vintage)
"A seamless pairing of Cabernet Sauvignon (51%) and Shiraz (49%) sourced from McLaren Vale, Padthaway and the Barossa Valley. A busy amalgam of aromas bustling and bright in black cherry, blackcurrant, bergamot aromatics, fine spices, allspice. Friendly as always, this Bin 389 is not so much about pushing boundaries (as some have done in the past with oak) as portraying classic Penfolds style fashioned around an even integration of fruit, tannin and oak. The palate is elegant, generously bodied in blue fruits, red berries, red currant, fine herbs, thyme, oregano, gentlest of spices and vanillin influences. Texturally fine, it moves with style."
95/100 Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, July 2025 (2023 Vintage)
"There’s a thickness to this release, and a freshness, and a formation of tannin, and an infusion of vanilla cream. The result is an impeccable release of Bin 389. It doesn’t jump out of the glass and announce that it’s really super high echelon but it does stake its quality claims in empathic terms. Red licorice and blackcurrant, mint, cream, olives and a brush of herbs. The key here is the cabernet component, which is clearly high class. This will cellar long term."
95/100 Erin Larkin, RobertParker.com, Wine Advocate, July 2025 (2023 Vintage)
"The 2023 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz is inky, complete, powerful and structured, with black berries, sweet licorice, star anise and fennel. There are also notes of roasted meat juices and cedar wood. The expression of this wine is very attractive—the prism of the cooler season works well in this wine. The fruit is sourced from McLaren Vale, Padthaway and Barossa Valley, matured for 12 months in American oak hogsheads, 33% new."
