2016 Australia

A blend of 97 percent Shiraz and three percent Viognier from the Frankland River region of Western Australia, a note of black pepper marks this out as a cool-climate Shiraz, but alongside the spice there’s also rich, ripe fruit. Red plum, black cherry and brambles combine with dried herbs and a hint of toastiness, all supported by ripe tannins and energetic acidity.

Many of the vines behind Bin 138 were originally used for the production of fortified wines, back when table wine was not so popular in Australia, providing old-vine concentration for this cuvée. You can taste the liquorice-like intensity right from the off, with plenty of spice and rich jammy fruit coming through from the Grenache too. The palate is slightly less expressive right now, more brooding than past vintages with more solidity and rich chocolate depths. Very different to the rest of the Penfolds reds, this wine is noticeable for its clever use of both French and American oak. Drink 2020-2026.
Peter Newton, Private Account Manager

Year on year this never fails to impress. The complexity, solidity and balance here shines brightly, even when lined up alongside other stellar Penfolds offerings. The nose is deep, full of liquorice intensity and well-packed dark fruits infused with fine-grained tree bark. The palate is closed-in, but the quality of rich blackcurrant and dark plum fruit is unmissable. Broad and almost chocolate-like in texture, this has fine-grained velvet tannins and a great line of persistent freshness that conjures notes of dark cherry. The long finish is all about the quality of ripe fruit. It’s seductive now, with everything already in the right place, but this beauty will only improve. Drink 2021-2028.
Peter Newton, Private Account Manager

Marananga is a famous sub-region of Barossa, source to some of the most famous names in Australian wine and this is one to add to that list. Rich and decadent, it is a real Shiraz-lover’s wine. A blend of both French and American oak, around 30 percent new, adds a level of spice to the Christmas cake and plum fruit. There is a touch of menthol which freshens the palate before finishing with seamless and svelte tannins. Always one of the standouts in the Bin series, the 2016 doesn’t disappoint. Drink 2020-2028.
Fergus Stewart, Private Account Manager

This has vast depth on the nose. It is very refined, with bags of concentrated, ripe tropical fruit and just a touch of buttered brioche. There’s a lovely saline glide on the tongue, all intense and mineral. The ripeness shows after a few minutes, with toffee apple, grapefruit and banana coming to the fore. There's a poise here and promise of much more after a few years in bottle. Drink 2019-2024.
Ben Grosvenor, Private Account Manager

The nose blows up in your face, like walking into a spice shop: cinnamon, cardamom and lavender along with hints of chocolate, orange and forest floor. The palate is classically Barossa in its proportions, with massive blue and black fruit supported by layers of cinnamon, lavender, five spice and smoked meat flavours. It’s all wrapped in a blanket of cedar and vanilla. The tannins and wood are still very strong and need a little time to integrate. Drink 2021-2030.
Mike Jordan, Private Account Manager

Pure Shiraz, this spends 13 months in a blend of French and American oak. There is a streak of violet on the nose, reminiscent of the Northern Rhône, with a big rich plummy and black-fruited body to counter the floral precision. This is a big wine, but not overblown at all and finishes with real fruit purity. An outstanding Magill this year and one that you can comfortably cellar for decades. Drink 2022-2040.
Fergus Stewart, Private Account Manager

The Powell & Son Eden Valley Riesling emanates from a single site in the high Flaxman’s Valley, 460 metres above sea level. The five-acre vineyard showcases dry grown, rod and spur pruned Riesling vines now over eighty years old.

The 2016 Riesling from Eden Valley opens with a lovely lime juice and orange blossoms laced nose, revealing an undercurrent of yuzu, honeysuckle and coriander seeds. Light-bodied, dry and elegantly fruited in the mouth, it provides tons of citrus layers and a lively backbone, finishing with great persistence. Drink 2017–2027. 
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate 229, 28th February 2017

The name ‘Woodcutter's’ originates from when David Powell spent several years working in the Scottish Highlands as a lumberjack in the Torbreck forest.
 
At just over £10 a bottle this should be must buy. The black fruits and pepper notes delivers surprising depth and concentration for its 'level'. There is a small presence of tannins suggesting that it’ll age well over the next 5 years. Surely this is the perfect BBQ wine to buy now and enjoy over the nex few years up to the 2021 Ashes series!
Hugo Thompson, Private Account Manager

The eight hectare Polish Hill vineyard is at 460 metres altitude and is just five kilometres from Springvale. Its infertile, shaley soil is slightly acidic and its topsoil has a clay and shale crust. As the vines have to work harder than those at Springvale, it produces smaller, distinctly flavoured and concentrated berries.

It’s the explosive flavours of the Grosset Polish Hill 2016 that distinguish this vintage with power and tremendous intensity of flavour. The bouquet has lavender, a touch of lime and some minerally notes while the palate has surprising generosity, lime juice characters and some characteristic chalkiness. It is tight, uber-fine with steely structure, before a dry finish featuring pure natural acidity and hints of schisty mineralogy.

While there’s no doubting its longevity, there will be many who will love this Polish Hill in its youth. Ageing Potential: 6-15 years, up to 20 years

This has become a hugely popular wine in the Penfolds collection and as such our own allocations are very tight, especially as production is down this year too. As with other wines in the range, there is an immediate impression of cool mint and eucalyptus, but this is combined with satisfying spice, savoury blackcurrant, cedar and rich caramel. The nose is brooding, currently held back by a firm oak grip but the fruit is straining to get out. The firmness of the palate actually gives it a slightly more European accent but when that massive structure yields, the tidal wave of sweet plum and dark-berried fruits will be worth the wait. This is a 707 of considerable stature and will need time to show its qualities to the full. Drink 2020-2040.
Fergus Stewart, Private Account Manager

The Roussanne Marsanne is based on the style of the great Hermitage Blancs of the Northern Rhone Valley. The aim is for richness, minerality and hedonism in this, the most premium white wine. The style is typically lower in acid and high in phenolic content, which provides richness on the palate and requisite phenolics to age. While floral, bright in fruit and pretty in youth this wine should age to become savoury, complex and decadent in years to come.

A blend of 60% Marsanne and 40% Roussanne, the 2016 Marsanne Roussanne offers pretty scents of warm peach, beeswax, honey and allspice with a hint of baking bread. Medium-bodied with plenty of savory and stone fruit flavor layers, it has a satiny texture and great persistence. 160 cases were made. Drink 2017–2023. 
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate 229, 28th February 2017