2009 Australia

In contrast to Bin 707, Bin 169 is the expression of the fruit and terroir from one single region, Coonawarra, perhaps the region more closely associated with Cabernet Sauvignon in Australia than any other. Matured for 14 months in new French oak, contemporary style showing both regionality and maturation of Cabernet Sauvignon in fine grained French oak. Until 31st August 2017 this product is discounted by 20%. Prices shown include discount; no further discount will be applied at checkout.

The nose is full of ripe Cassis and Blueberry, a hint of pencil shavings and szechuan pepper lies underneath.  The palate is medium plus bodied , a finer and more classically structured Grange with great composition and poise.  The mid palate is full of bramble fruit which leads gently into a finish of finely grained, integrated and savoury tannins and a cooling menthol acidity.
Stuart Rae, Private Account Manager

An alternative expression of Shiraz, and an intriguing contrast to Grange. And unusual amongst top quality Australian red wines as it is made without the use of new oak. A distinctive style, St Henri is rich and plush when young, gaining soft, earthy, mocha-like characters as it ages. It is matured in old, 1460 litre vats that allow the wine to develop whilst imparting little, if any oak character.

As usual, Pat Carmody at Craiglee has fashioned a supremely elegant Chardonnay with more than a hint of Burgundian elegnce and restraint. The grapes are barrel-fermented and enjoy significant lees contact, which imparts aromas of cashew nut, with hints of melon and pineapple.

However, the blocking of ther malolactic fermentation means that the wine retains a firm, refreshing acidity and helps it to age gracefully over a number of years. Excellent with rich fish dishes but could also work well with light poultry dishes. 2009 proved a challenging year for winemakers as drought created severe problems. The cool climate sites fared best, particularly Victoria, such as Sunbury, home to Craiglee. The Chardonnay was barrel-fermented but was not allowed to undergo malocatic fermentation.

This helps to preserve the inherent acidity in the wine and maintains freshness and vitality. The bouquet displays notes of exotic fruit such as pineapple and melon, with hints of nuts, too. On the palate extended lees contact imbues the wine with great intensity, richness and a pleasing minerality, and despite its Australian origins there is a real sense of restraint and subtlety, reminiscent of White Burgundy in a ripe vintage. Ready now but will improve for a couple of years of further ageing.
(Katie Cooper, Wince Club Manager)

A full bodied wine with proven cellaring potential, Bin 707 is renowned as one of Australia's finest Cabernet Sauvignon wines and is Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon version of Grange. Full and rich fruit allied with American Oak, Bin 707 fully expresses Penfolds understanding of multi-vineyard, multi- region fruit sourcing. Bin 707 is a multi-regional blend, but the core of the fruit still comes from 150 year old pre-phylloxera vines from the famous Block 42 parcel in the Kalimna vineyards.

A very intense nose, the palate shows power yet poise and a real purity of fruit: concentrated mulberry and cassis. The 100% new American oak is perfectly integrated. Seriously refined this rivals the great wines of Bordeaux at a fraction of the price and will benefit from serious cellaring.

Yattarna reflects the patience and commitment found in Penfolds winemaking to produce the best white wine they can, however long it takes. Its very name being drawn from the aboriginal for “little by little. Gradually”. Each vintage providing the opportunity to further raise the quality bar.

Yattarna is a white wine that was developed to rival the standards set by Penfolds Grange. Ready to drink at release, this is a Chardonnay that gains complexity and richness with age.


Yattarna palate blueprint is tight and fine, linear and defined. A mesh of lemon and lime fruits fused with a smattering of brioche and a roasted nuttiness. A decant or vigourous swirl in the glass reveals sensitive use of stylish French oak and bâtonnage artefact… a suggestion of nougat, and a flash of lanolin.

This single vineyard wine, located next to the winery. Planted by Dave Powell in 1994 with cuttings off old Run Rig vineyards - some of the oldest genetic material in Australia and the World. A blend of 92% Shiraz and 8% Viognier.
 
The two Descendant grapes are co-fermented with one another and the freshness is what impresses me most of all. There is a wonderful aromatic and spicy lift from the Viognier and a brooding, black punch of flavour and weight from the Shiraz. The wine is aged for 18 months in seasoned French oak and has a huge volume of fruit characters that lingers for more than a minute. This may only be a 19 year old vineyard but the precision and depth of flavour achieved already in the (relatively) young vines is admirable. There are only 5000 bottles of this incredible wine made so do your best to secure a case.
Laura Atkinson, Fine Wine Manager