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The famous red soils of Coonawarra might be more famous for the distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon they produce, but Shiraz grown there is equally as unique and delicious. So, don’t overlook this little beauty. The cool climate and use of French oak add a Rhône-like touch, although it remains staunchly Aussie. The flavour profile is more red fruit-dominated than one might expect, so tangy cranberry, sweet pomegranate, red plum jam and ripe raspberry mingle with blackberry, vanilla, peppery juniper, mint, creamy tiramisu and dried herbs. First made in 1962, Penfolds Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz is still going strong some 57 years later, and it makes a fine choice for bringing a little sunshine to cold winter evenings. Highly recommended with comfort food.
Penfolds is certainly Australia’s, and possibly one of the world’s, most iconic wine producers. Established in 1844, it boasts an enviable history that most wineries in the Old World would give their right arm for. Most famous for its flagship wine, Penfolds Grange, which is the very definition of Australian fine wine and the 1955 vintage was even described by Wine Spectator as one of the “Wines of the Century”. Penfolds owe much of their success to Max Schubert, their winemaker who travelled to Europe after World War II and came back with all kinds of secrets. His innovative, often multi-regional, blends have become part of the DNA of Penfolds, and now the wines are the choice of connoisseurs and collectors all over the world.
93 Points - Decanter
Look closely, there’s more than you initially deduce here. Beyond the heft of ripe plummy fruit is a fine lacework of fennel and sage. What seems to be a simple, sweet entry becomes more interesting as the savoury grip tightens through the mid-palate. There’s a spicy dry lick as tannins bite through the sunny red fruit, revealing pleasing, understated complexity.
91 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A regional style aged exclusively in French oak hogsheads (24% new), the 2019 Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz hints at cracked pepper and cedar on the nose, backed by deep, plummy fruit and brighter notes of red raspberries. It's medium-bodied (almost light, by Penfolds standards), framed by silky tannins and a lingering, elegant finish. Drinkable now, it has at least a decade of longevity ahead of it. Drink 2021-2030.
