The BIN 389 Cabernet Shiraz is one of Penfolds oldest labels. The wine was first produced in 1960 and at that time matured in the used barrels of the Grange Hermitage. Nowadays it has been significantly upgraded and mostly has around 40% new barriques. It got its name from the former deposit 389.
With the BIN 389, Penfolds uses a little more Cabernet Sauvignon than Shiraz, in the case of the 2020 vintage it is 51% to 49%. The grapes for this top wine grow in McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Padthaway, Coonawarra, Robe and Wrattonbully.
The 2020 vintage was excellent in South Australia, reflected in the euphoric ratings for the BIN 389: 97/100 from Master of Wine Andrew Caillard, 97/100 by Tony Love, 97/100 by David Sly of Decanter magazine. Quote: "The superb quality of fruit allocated in this luscious blend - dubbed by many as 'baby Grange' - probably represents the best value to be found in the Penfolds portfolio, and is the shining star of the reds in the 2022 Collection. Its rich and plush mixture of plum, black cherry and mulberry flavors are slapped into line by a stern tannin drill sergeant, so that it finishes cleanly and absolutely correctly.Generous, approachable and complete, it tells a very satisfying wine story.Released at A$100 /bottle."
For the European market, Penfolds fills the 389 with natural cork. In Australia it has been on the market with a screw cap for years.
