2020 Penfolds, Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia
Critics reviews
This 2020 Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon is big and structural—the Cabernet character (the “Cabernosity” of the wine) sits behind a parapet of oak, and the tannins are finely knit and tightly clenched around the fruit. Unpicking the structure from the finish reveals smoked cassis, resinous char, star anise and sticky lamb fat. It’s a big-shouldered, muscly wine.
This is fierce and concentrated and will live an eon, but in my opinion, it lacks the finesse and poise that I want to see in Cabernet Sauvignon. The oak regimen—15 months in French (24% new) and American (12% new) hogsheads—and regional makeup has something to do with that: McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, Padthaway and Wrattonbully. There are a lot of good Cabernet regions in there, but in combination, they lose their identities—although, that has long been the appeal with this wine. Choose your own adventure.
Drink 2022 - 2042
Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate (Jul 2022)
Paler than the Bin 150. Really intense cassis nose. Neat and fresh with lots of sweetness on the palate. Then a tense, tighter, tarry finish. Complex but still very youthful.
Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com (Jun 2022)
Strong statement of cabernet is the first impression, with violets, blueberries, blackcurrants, fresh leaves and herbs. I like the clarity here. The palate has such intense and rich fruit, with plush, polished and ripe blueberry and cassis flavors. Holds an impressively measured and balanced stance. A blend of McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, Padthaway and Wrattonbully. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com (Jun 2022)
Deep red-purple colour leads into a strongly varietal cabernet nose of sweet berries, cassis and framboise, pristine and fresh, ripe yet aromatic, the palate showing the relative leanness and elegance of cabernet of this style, with fine-grained tannins that are measured and harmonious and not too assertive, helping to extend the very long finish. A svelte and refined cabernet. (McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, Padthaway, Wrattonbully)
Huon Hooke, The Real Review (Jun 2022)
About this WINE
Penfolds
Penfolds enjoys an iconic status that few New World producers have achieved. Established in 1844 at the Magill Estate near Adelaide, it laid the foundation for fine wine production in Australia.
The winemaking team is led by the masterful Peter Gago; it has the herculean task of blending the best wines from a multitude of different plots, vineyards and regions to create a consistent and outstanding range of wines. Its flagship wine, Grange, is firmly established as one of the finest red wines in the world.
Under Gago’s stewardship, the Penfolds range has evolved over time. Winemaking has moved away from New World heat and the sort of larger-than-life style that can mask individuality; the contemporary wines instead favour fine balance and typicity for the region or grape.
South Australia
At 72,000 hectares, South Australia is the engine room of the country's wine industry, responsible for 43 percent of its vineyards and encompassing some of Australia’s most famous fine wine regions.
One of the most important areas in qualitative terms is the Barossa Valley, beginning 50km north-east of Adelaide, and famous for its full-bodied Shiraz, as well as for its Grenache and Mourvèdre. To the east, the cool Eden Valley is home to some really fine Riesling and top-class Shiraz, such as that made by Henschke. To the north of Barossa is the Clare Valley, also a source of good Riesling but home to well-structured reds as well.
South-east of Adelaide lies the delightful vineyard area of the Adelaide Hills, where fine Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir are produced by wineries such as Petaluma and Llangibby Estate. Langhorne Creek to the east of Adelaide has earned a reputation for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Verdelho and Shiraz while, between Adelaide and the sea, McLaren Vale is a noted area for red wines.
The unique vineyard region of Coonawarra lies 400km south-east in an area of pure limestone topped by a loose, red topsoil. Cool enough to resemble Bordeaux, this area produces great Cabernets and Merlots and is much in demand. Slightly to the north and to the west lie the regions of Padthaway and Mount Benson respectively, which enjoy similar success as sources of great white wines, especially Chardonnay. Wrattonbully however is known for its fresh, varietally-pure Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
However it’s the less-distinguished Riverland region that accounts for 50 percent of the state’s wine production.
Cabernet Sauvignon
The most famous red wine grape in the world and one of the most widely planted.
It is adaptable to a wide range of soils, although it performs particularly well on well-drained, low-fertile soils. It has small, dusty, black-blue berries with thick skins that produce deeply coloured, full-bodied wines with notable tannins. Its spiritual home is the Médoc and Graves regions of Bordeaux where it thrives on the well-drained gravel-rich soils producing tannic wines with piercing blackcurrant fruits that develop complex cedarwood and cigar box nuances when fully mature.
The grape is widely planted in California where Cabernet Sauvignon based wines are distinguished by their rich mixture of cassis, mint, eucalyptus and vanilla oak. It is planted across Australia and with particular success in Coonawarra where it is suited to the famed Terra Rossa soil. In Italy barrique aged Cabernet Sauvignon is a key component in Super Tuscans such as Tignanello and Sassicaia, either on its own or as part of a blend with Sangiovese.
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Description
The decadent Bin 407 is a rambunctious mix of stalwart regions in the Penfolds range. The power of McLaren Vale and Barossa valley is tempered with the cooler climate fruit from Coonawarra giving a piquant of eucalyptus and mint. Overwhelmingly the palate is dominated by pure black fruit but there are delightful hints of violet, bay leaf and sweet spice. Ripe but with a delightful freshness, this is top notch quality Cabernet and with no 707 made this year, it’s impressive quality is hard to ignore. A stunner. Drink 2026-2040
Henrietta Gullifer, Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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