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2013 Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet-Shiraz South Australia

2013 Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet-Shiraz South Australia

96BC
95JH
94DC
93JS
92WS
91RP
91VN

96

Bob Campbell

I have an emotional attachment to Bin 389 having tasted and enjoyed every vintage for more than 30 years and been witness to a sophisticated revolution toward greater finesse. Deep-tinted wine but not heavy or overdone, with quite elegant flavours that include a cedar, cassis Cabernet character and sweetly luscious Shiraz. A lovely wine that can be appreciated now but really needs to be cellared for quite a few years to fully appreciate its star quality.

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Price: $59.99

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Professional Reviews

95

James Halliday

Review Date: 09/2015
A 51/49% blend from the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Wrattonbully and Coonawarra that spent 12 months in American hogsheads (88% new and 1yo, 12% 2yo). The 'don't mess with me' message is immediate, the bouquet a shower of dark, savoury, earthy aromas, the palate trenchantly full bodied - yet balanced and utterly persuasive. It needs 5 years to settle down and be friendly, but will handsomely repay patience. (JH)

94

Decanter

A broodingly youthful "baby Grange" combining chocolate, cassis and blueberry Cabernet aromas with the sweeter, cinnamon, camphor and pepper notes of Shiraz but yet to fully integrate. Substantial and chewy with a firm spine of acidity.

93

James Suckling

Review Date: 01/2016
Almost half/half, this is 51/49 cabernet shiraz from 2013 and shows strident blackberry, cassis, mocha and spice, some redder fruit nuances, chocolate and rough-sawn oak. The palate's sweetly fruited, tannins are chewy but not aggressive and the rich red to purple fruit flavors cover the mouth sweetly. Succulent, dusty tannin draw through the finish. This 389 is brazen and needs time's polish, best from 2021. (NS)
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Staff Reviews

David Othenin-Girard
Review Date: 04/2016
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This wine, like so many of the Penfold's offerings, is just such an easy decision for anyone who likes a slightly bolder style. Each wine is made deftly with the great care and the endless resources of Australia's finest wine producer. The result is one of the safest buys in the industry. It's like an even money bet at the race track, you know everyone knows it's a winner, but in this case you get to drink your winnings. Big bold fruit here with this pointed dark blue and blackberry poking through. Lovely touch of smokiness and complex structure to balance this. A wonderful example of what these two noble varietals can do together. Aussie wines built with character, complexity and structure to last years or drink soon? As I said even money bet. NO RISK, BIG REWARD!
Kirk Walker
Review Date: 03/2016
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This classic Aussie blend delivers the best of both varietals. Dark berries, lush and spicy Shiraz resting on top of rich, tannic but bright Cabernet. The later pulls the former through to a nice linger finish. This is a classic, not to be missed wine from South Australia.
Ryan Woodhouse
Review Date: 03/2016
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The little brother to one of the world's greatest wines. I have a special place in my heart for this wine; whilst not a true "2nd wine" I always think of it a great indicator of the vintage for Penfolds. Selected from some of their best and oldest sites, and consisting of roughly equal parts of the two powerhouse varietals of South Australia - Cab and Shiraz. This is a super concentrated wine with the Cabernet providing the skeleton and the Shiraz filling out the muscle! Dark berries, cassis, plum and whiffs of cigar box on the nose. The palate overflowing with ripe, dark red fruits, asian spice and bacon fat. Mouth-coating, intense and succulent. Nothing over done here though, plenty of structure and oak to keep everything composed and in harmony. Tannins that are nicely ripe and fine but suggest a good decant or some time in the cellar. I'm really happy we can offer this stellar release for under $50! I'm laying some away in my cellar.
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Notes

Winemaker's Notes: "Bin 389 is 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 to forge Penfolds solid reputation with red wine drinkers combining the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon with the richness of Shiraz. Bin 389 also exemplifies the judicious balance of fruit and oak. A blend of 51% Cabernet, 49% Shiraz from Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Wrattonbully and Coonawarra. The color is deep, dark magenta. The nose - a first impression of dark fruits and chocolate, splashed by spices, cinnamon, vanillia pod and cola. Then, a transient umami dabble - via cues of smoked bacon. Intriguingly different, yet still Bin 389, albeit young/evolving at this perusal at an early stage. On the palate it's expansive, explosive, exotic - a Bin 389 triple-ex palate rating! A wave/surge of fruits and spice unleashed. Juicy, succulent tannins engulf, alongside oak - adding volume, density. Mouth-coating in every sense. Long and lingering."

Product Details

Origin: South Australia, Australia

Type/Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends

Alcohol Content: 14.5%

SKU: #1246380