Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 2002

Penfolds Rewards of Patience tasting panel 2021 - 5/5 rating
Matthew Jukes Top 100 Australian Wines of 2005

Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz is the archetypal warm climate Australian shiraz - ripe, robust and generously flavoured. First made in 1959, Bin 28 is named after the famous Barossa Valley Kalimna vineyard purchased by Penfolds in 1945 and from which the wine was originally sourced. Today, Kalimna Bin 28 is a multi-region, multi-vineyard blend, with the Barossa Valley always well represented.

"This is drinking perfectly right now. A well-rounded, long smooth palate full of black and red fruits, liquorice, earth, and aniseed and tomato vines. The integration of the flavours is just so good here. A delicious wine."  Paul Ippolito (Tasted 2008)

The 2002 Bin 28 Kalimna was sourced from vineyards in the  Barossa Valley (45%), McLaren Vale, Adelaide and Padthaway. The wine was matured for 12 months in older American oak hogsheads.

"Deep, plum red. The nose is intense and lifted, an amalgam of dark cherries and blueberry fruits laced with cinnamon, liquorice and aniseed. An inviting wine, powerful yet not porty, without any intrusion of new oak. Stylistically, textbook Bin 28! The palate is mouthfilling and generous with fleshy, dark stonefruit and liqueur cherry flavours, reminiscent of a rich fruitcake mixture. The concentrated mid palate is complexed by mocha and vanilla bean flavours, in harmony with the youthful chunky tannins and an alert acidity. Arguably the best Bin 28 release since 1998, this wine will repay medium to long term cellaring."  Peter Gago, Penfold's Chief Winemaker

"Medium-deep crimson. Intense dark cherry, dark chocolate and espresso aromas with herb garden notes. Densely packed with dark cherry and blackberry, fine persistent chocolaty textures, espresso/tobacco notes and integrated acidity. Smooth and velvety yet builds up vigour and torque at the finish. Layered and multifaceted. Drink now to 2040.

Vintage Conditions: Regular winter rainfalls ensured ideal soil moisture levels and healthy vine growth. Spring and summer temperatures were amongst the lowest on record, which reduced yield potential, as well as slowing overall crop ripening to a crawl. A warm, dry autumn eventuated, which, combined with careful vineyard management, enabled the grapes to reach ideal ripeness."  Penfolds

Expert reviews

"Medium-deep crimson. Intense dark cherry, dark chocolate and espresso aromas with herb garden notes. Densely packed with dark cherry and blackberry, fine persistent chocolaty textures, espresso/tobacco notes and integrated acidity. Smooth and velvety yet builds up vigour and torque at the finish. Layered and multifaceted."  Penfolds Rewards of Patience tasting panel 2021 - 5/5 rating

"Seamless, linear, unbroken, continuous and smooth is the message here – it just flows and rolls off the glass down the tongue just beautifully. That is what age is supposed to do to a wine, and this is drinking perfectly right now. The fruit, oak, tannins and acidity are all in sync and the balanced nature of the Shiraz really reflects well in a well rounded long smooth palate full of black and red fruits, liquorice, earth, and aniseed and tomato vines. The integration of the flavours is just so good here. What results and ensues is a classy red full of character and flavours that invites and excites and also delivers big-time on the finish. A delicious wine that makes you appreciate the rewards of patience in cellaring good red wine. Try this with greek lamb, roast potatoes and pumpkin with a rocket and parmesan salad. Drink to 2012 -2015 plus."  Paul Ippolito - 96 points (Tasted Dec 2008)

"Fragrant black fruits, earth, spice and vanilla; medium-bodied; very good structure, flow and mouthfeel; at the elegant end of the '02 spectrum. Drink Now-2013."  James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion - 93 points

"This is one of Australia's unsung heroes and I challenge anyone in the world to build such an immediately appealing, yet eminently age-worthy Shiraz. It can't be done, can it?"  Matthew Jukes, wineexpert.com -  Top 100 Australian Wines 2005

"The voluptuous bouquet accurately signals the lush, juicy palate,...acidity - stiff, steely and destined for the dungeon...."  Philip White, The Advertiser – 92+++ points

"Lovely spicy somewhat Rhoney bouquet. Very good character and softness of tannins, elegance and charm. Black fruits, anise, spices and lots of appeal. Still promises to live for many years. Drink: 2013-2032."  Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 92 points (Tasted Aug 2012)

"Fresh, primary, raw, tannic, lovely. A wine to snog - or to keep, the choice is still yours. Ferrous notes, plums, mint, spice, cedar. Not so keen on the eucalypt characters showing more prominently in this last bracket, but the fruit quality is very good. Excellent tannin framework, ripe, controlled and mature. Drink Now - 2024."  Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front - 91 points (Tasted Sep 2007)

"A decent swirl in the glass and this Bin 28 opened up beautifully. With its distinctive cherry and blueberry characters mixed with spice, some chocolate and vanillan notes, this wine's almost fruit cakey but by no means porty. It's juicy and finishes fresh, long and clean. The most approachable drink from this bracket of 2002 Penfold's wines."  Jane Faulkner, The Age Good Life

Awards

Penfolds Rewards of Patience tasting panel 2021 - 5/5 rating
Top 100 Australian Wines of 2005 - Matthew Jukes

About the winery

After the success of early sherries and fortified wines, founders Dr Christopher and Mary Penfold planted the vine cuttings they had carried on their voyage over to Australia. In 1844 the fledging vineyard was officially established as the Penfolds wine company at Magill Estate.

As the company grew, so too did Dr Penfold's medical reputation, leaving much of the running of the winery to Mary Penfold. Early forays into Clarets and Rieslings proved increasingly popular, and on Christopher's death in 1870, Mary assumed total responsibility for the winery. Mary's reign at the helm of Penfolds saw years of determination and endeavour.

By the time Mary Penfold retired in 1884 (ceding management to her daughter, Georgina) Penfolds was producing 1/3 of all South Australia's wine. She'd set an agenda that continues today, experimenting with new methods in wine production. By Mary's death in 1896, the Penfolds legacy was well on its way to fruition. By 1907, Penfolds had become South Australia's largest winery.

In 1948, history was made again as Max Schubert became the company's first Chief Winemaker. A loyal company man and true innovator, Schubert would propel Penfolds onto the global stage with his experimentation of long-lasting wines - the creation of Penfolds Grange in the 1950s.

In 1959 (while Schubert was perfecting his Grange experiment in secret), the tradition of ‘bin wines' began. The first, a Shiraz wine with the grapes of the company's own Barossa Valley vineyards was simply named after the storage area of the cellars where it is aged. And so Kalimna Bin 28 becomes the first official Penfolds Bin number wine.

In 1960, the Penfolds board instructed Max Schubert to officially re-start production on Grange. His determination and the quality of the aged wine had won them over.

Soon, the medals began flowing and Grange quickly became one of the most revered wines around the world. In 1988 Schubert was named Decanter Magazine's Man of the Year, and on the 50th anniversary of its birth, Penfolds Grange was given a heritage listing in South Australia.

Despite great success, Penfolds never rests on its laurels. In 2012 Penfolds released its most innovative project to date - 12 handcrafted ampoules of the rare 2004 Kalimna Block Cabernet Sauvignon.

Two years later, Penfolds celebrated the 170th anniversary – having just picked up a perfect score of 100 for the 2008 Grange in two of the world's most influential wine magazines. Today, Penfolds continues to hold dear the philosophies and legends – ‘1844 to evermore!'.