The Penfolds BIN 138 Shiraz, Grenache,Mataro (Mourvèdre) comes from partly very old vines, some of which date back to the planting year 1895. This blend is based on the wines of the southern Rhône valley and was first launched with the 1992 vintage, then known as Old Vine Barossa Valley. With the 1998 vintage, Penfolds raised this cuvée to BIN status. Stylistically, the BIN 138 is also strongly reminiscent of its French counterparts, with its intense and at the same time soft and spicy style. It was matured in barriques for twelve months, one eighth of which were new.
The 2020 vintage consists of 65% Shiraz, 29% Grenache, 6% Mataro. The yields were small this year, but the quality was extraordinary. The Penfolds BIN 138 is dark purple in color. The scent indicates its juicy nature through the ripe fruit, you can find aromas like pomegranate, currants, olives, star anise and a delicate mineral note like warm wet stones. Very multifaceted. On the palate it has a lot of extract and charm, the tannins attack gently at the back, which gives the wine great tension and the structure of the abundant body. A tempting and complex wine that doesn't fill you up. This is where the full skill of the Penfolds team comes into play.
David Sly from Decanter magazine gives the 2020 BIN 138 93/100 points and writes: "Rich but also measured and balanced, this muscular blend presents lots of textural pitch and roll in its substantial frame, bound by firm oak and tight tannins. Mataro's barbecued brisket meatiness bites immediately on entry, but then softer tones of bright plum and raspberry from the Grenache and Shiraz start to shine through. The concentration is what you' d expect this Penfolds staple, and it will last a long time in the cellar."
