Despite not being as familiar with Australian wine as I'd like to be, I will readily admit to having a crippling weakness for Bin 389 – especially with a perfectly seared steak. Alas, as I cannot spend $65+ each time I'm craving a meaty/chocolatey wine to go with said steak, this time I settled for the Bin 28 as my pairing. It's 100% Shiraz from several South Australian vineyards, including the well-known Barossa Valley plot. Aged for 12 months in 16% new American oak. Stored at 55, popped and poured – did not decant separately.
Visually, it's a deep ruby. You already know this is an inky, toothstaining wine. Synthetic cork.
On the nose, it's quite oaky at opening – vanilla. Up next, the unmistakable scent of a Peruvian D'Onofrio panettone – goodness it's crystal clear to me – followed by dark fruit, stewed plums, blackberry preserves. Further into the glass, eucalyptus leaf. As it warms, tobacco and a faint dark chocolate. This is a fantastic nose.
On the palate, the tannins and the acid demand your attention equally loudly. I did not decant this separately, a mistake – but it starts to settle down with an hour of air. It's a dense, bold bodied wine – but to note, even at 14.5% alcohol, the heat never asked for my attention. Decent finish full of black fruit, pepper & tobacco. I'd put it just at the beginning of its ideal window.
At this price point for a Shiraz/Syrah ($30-$35), my preference remains with JL Chave's Saint-Joseph Offerus, which just offers more of the meaty/chocolatey notes, more intensity, better balance (even sans air) – more in line with what I like. I'll continue to make my way through the many Penfolds bins, as if I shouldn't just save all that $$ up for more 389!
by JJxiv15
7 Comments
The panettone note is wild, never would’ve picked that out but now I need to hunt for it next time I crack a Barossa shiraz
The 389 math never works out and we keep running it anyway. Bin 28 is what the craving settles for on a normal week, and with an hour of air the oak stops hogging the glass.
Fantastic notes, thanks for sharing. I’ll be sure to look for the panettone notes on my next sip!
I think LB throws up the 389 for $30 during their marathons. I personally don’t care for the bin 28 at its retail price point, but the 389 is worth every penny of $30 and then some for a nice weeknight pairing.
You just reminded me I have 2 bottles of 2017 389 from a LB marathon I need to open.
Good notes: even if you prefer something like a Saint Joesph – there is no mistaking that for Barossa Shiraz (or vice versa).
I agree there is aging potential in the ~$30 tier of Penfolds and like. Australia is (somehow) still recovering from the critter wines era – they have a lot of character and are usually not confused from a wine from elsewhere, for better or worse.
Thanks for sharing. Just grabbed a few of these at Costco last week.