2021 Penfolds, Bin 28, Shiraz, Australia
Critics reviews
From vineyards in McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Padthaway, Wrattonbully and Clare Valley. Overall, summer and autumn conditions were cooler than average, allowing grapes to ripen slowly. Aged for 12 months in American oak hogsheads (7% new). TA 6.4 g/l, pH 3.69.
Very concentrated dark purple. High-toned, menthol nose. Very sweet and mellow texture. Very South Australian and satisfying. Long and very comfortable in its own skin. The fruit can stand up to the tannins well, and there is genuine persistence of flavour.
Drink 2023 - 2040
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com (July 2023)
The 2021 Bin 28 Shiraz hails from five regions: McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Padthaway, Wrattonbully and Clare Valley. The wine matured for 12 months in American oak (7% new), and this really amplifies the sweet fruit characters in the mouth.
It’s already nicely integrated aromatically, despite being poured and opened in the same instance (i.e., no preparation before tasting), and is redolent with red and purple berry fruit. Spicy, full throttle and loads of tannin in the mouth. Nicely chewy.
The first vintage of this wine was in 1959. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under a screw cap.
Drink 2023 - 2035
Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate (July 2023)
The type of full-weighted Australian Shiraz that many expect. While it could be argued that the style is a bit fusty, what cannot be denied is the moreish feel. Iodine, clove and boysenberry billow toward a nourishing and forceful finish, and the reality is that this cuvee, as with so many in the stable, is reliable and delicious. Sure, the oak is a bit fuzzy, but there is plenty to like.
Drink or hold
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com (July 2023)
Penfolds fans will fondly recall this Bin when it was called Kalimna Shiraz, first made in 1959 from the Barossa Valley vineyard Penfolds bought in 1945. Today Bin 28 is a multi-region Shiraz, but the Barossa fruit is always well represented.
It may have lost the Kalimna name, but that traditional, old-school style remains: monolithically dark, brooding and tannic, with ultra-ripe sweet fruit, smoky oak (from 12 months in American hogsheads, 7% new) and roast meat and briney iodine note throughout.
Drink 2023 - 2050
Tina Gellie, Decanter.com (June 2023)
The 2021 Shiraz Bin 28 is a little shy before building and offering broad blackberry, blackcurrant, blackberry and chocolate aromas with sweet oak in support. Supple and fleshy fruited in style with well-weighted tannins, it’s a nicely pitched South Australian Shiraz with good upfront generosity, which it will continue to hold over the short to medium term.
Drink 2023 - 2030
Angus Hughson, Vinous.com (July 2023)
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.
Syrah/Shiraz
A noble black grape variety grown particularly in the Northern Rhône where it produces the great red wines of Hermitage, Cote Rôtie and Cornas, and in Australia where it produces wines of startling depth and intensity. Reasonably low yields are a crucial factor for quality as is picking at optimum ripeness. Its heartland, Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, consists of 270 hectares of steeply terraced vineyards producing wines that brim with pepper, spices, tar and black treacle when young. After 5-10 years they become smooth and velvety with pronounced fruit characteristics of damsons, raspberries, blackcurrants and loganberries.
It is now grown extensively in the Southern Rhône where it is blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre to produce the great red wines of Châteauneuf du Pape and Gigondas amongst others. Its spiritual home in Australia is the Barossa Valley, where there are plantings dating as far back as 1860. Australian Shiraz tends to be sweeter than its Northern Rhône counterpart and the best examples are redolent of new leather, dark chocolate, liquorice, and prunes and display a blackcurrant lusciousness.
South African producers such as Eben Sadie are now producing world- class Shiraz wines that represent astonishing value for money.
Buying options
Add to wishlist
Description
First produced in 1959, the Bin 28 has long been a benchmark Australian Shiraz and the 2021 is no exception. It leads with a delightfully opulent nose with notes of berries, spice and chocolate cascading out the glass. Richly fruited and plush on the palate, with tightly woven tannins and notes of cherry cola, coconut and plums.
Broad and expansive, the house style is evident with generosity of fruit particularly on the mid palate. It is rare to see such age worthy reds of this quality at such an affordable price.
Drink now - 2038
Alex Weller, Private Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd
wine at a glance
Delivery and quality guarantee