2004 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
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Tasting notes
Fragrant, a touch floral, like daphne and Sarcococca sweet box flowers at midnight. Then mulberry. Forest fruit. Wild black raspberries. Blackcurrant bud and box leaf. The cool, long, slow breath of summer evenings once the warmth has left the stones. A wine which wends its way through sweetness and leaf, earth and stone. Weaving weft and warp of nature into a tapestry – abundant tannins beautifully managed. Co-taster and wine writer Nick Ryan said 'ebullience and generosity anchored by discipline of Cab', and that captures this wine beautifully. In 2017, Jancis wrote that this wine was only just hitting its stride, and now it's gathering pace. (TC)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jay S Miller, Wine Advocate
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Shiraz, aged in 35% new oak. Mushroom, some furniture-polish aromas (perhaps a bit of acetic influence?), still tight and grainy with a lot of bitterness on the palate. Needs more age? Possibly going through an awkward phase. (RH)
53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Shiraz. Lots of youthful primary cassis fruit here, chalky texture with strong liquorice and aniseed. Full of vigour and energy. Hints of capsicum on the nose, but nothing underripe whatsoever. Impressive, and only just hitting its stride. (RH)
53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Shiraz. Dark black cherry colour with black core. Vanilla sweetness and some peppery spice over dark savoury rich black fruit. Dominated by oak an the moment. Not ready to drink. Very sweet oak covers the fruit at the moment. A grip of tannin. A bit thick even though smooth. Less finesse in the tannins than the 2004 Grange but quite juicy. (JH)
About the producer
Penfolds is Australia’s most famous wine producer, known best for their iconic top wine, Grange. First produced commercially in 1952, Grange has since gone on to become one of the world’s most famous fine wines. In 2001, the wine was listed as an Australian heritage icon.