Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2019

Known as Baby Grange, as some of the wine is aged in ex-grange barrels, Bin 389 has a significant pedigree for long aging, and this is no exception. It shows good colour and fruit concentration although the wine is clearly also at the beginning of a long life. Graphite, roasted meat, white pepper, blackberry and wintergreen aromas are well supported and integrated with American oak. The palate is then reserved rather than forceful – with some fleshy fruits matched by a darker and more savoury underbelly. There is also a quiet confidence thanks to superb fruit balance with the firm tannins of the vintage providing a tense backbone while supporting a long and complex finish. It’s a dark horse that is a little closed right now but has all the features in place for a long drinking future. 

Angus Hughson

Founder at Winepilot

Angus is an award-winning wine writer and the Founder and Publisher of Winepilot, the Australian Editor for leading international publication VINOUS with Antonio Galloni based in New York City and the Co-Publisher of The Australian Ark with over 15 years of publishing, writing and judging experience.

Critic and publisher