Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2002
Style: Red Wine
Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon (54%), Shiraz (46%)
Closure: Cork
Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2002
Camberwell
Burke Road
Camberwell VIC 3124
Australia
Producer: Penfolds
Country: Australia
Region: Multi Regional SA
Vintage: 2002
Critic Score: 95 and ★★★★★
Alcohol: 14.5%
Size: 750 ml
Drink by: 2040
Penfolds Rewards of Patience tasting panel 2021 - 5/5 rating
Penfolds Bin 389 is often referred to as 'Baby Grange', in part because components of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. First made in 1960 by the legendary Max Schubert, this was the wine that helped forge Penfolds reputation with red wine drinkers by combining the structure of cabernet sauvignon with the richness of shiraz. It is named after its original binning compartment at Magill cellars.
"Powerful but silky smooth; elegance and fruit freshness beyond the normal; black fruits running through the length of the palate; ripe tannins, restrained oak. Another testament to 2002." James Halliday
The 2002 Bin 389 is a blend of 54% cabernet sauvignon and 46% shiraz from premium vineyards in McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Bordertown, Barossa Valley and Langhorne Creek. The wine was matured for 12 months 22% new and seasoned American oak hogsheads.
"Medium-deep crimson. Generous and opulent with ripe expressive cassis and blueberry, roasted hazelnut and chocolate aromas. Dense mulberry, cassis, dark chocolate and espresso flavours, herb garden nuances, fresh chocolaty tannins and underlying toasty mocha oak notes. A velvety smooth finish with persistent and balanced acidity. Drinking well, but will improve with time. Peak drinking to 2045.
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
"Dense, deep red. Vibrant, lively aromas are immediately apparent without any need to swirl the glass. Aromas of mocha meshed with concentrated Satsuma plum, liquorice and cold meats. Subtle smoky oak and background florals complete the aromatic offering. Full flavoured and persistent across the palate and displaying great balance between fruit, oak, acid and tannin. Blackberry and blackcurrant fruit flavours, courted by mouth puckering cabernet tannins, effortlessly convey chocolatey, mocha flavours and cedary oak. A classic Bin 389, right up there with the best, with long term cellaring potential of over twelve years." Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker
Expert reviews
"Medium-deep crimson. Generous and opulent with ripe expressive cassis and blueberry, roasted hazelnut and chocolate aromas. Dense mulberry, cassis, dark chocolate and espresso flavours, herb garden nuances, fresh chocolaty tannins and underlying toasty mocha oak notes. A velvety smooth finish with persistent and balanced acidity. Drinking well, but will improve with time. Peak drinking to 2045." Penfolds Rewards of Patience tasting panel 2021 - 5/5 rating
"A glorious bottle of this lovely wine, which is probably drinking at its peak, but certainly shows no sign it won't maintain this level for years to come. Complex, bright, velvet smooth and very deep on the palate. There is matured complexity in spadefuls but also freshness and stacks of fruit. Drink: 2020–2030." Huon Hooke, The Real Review - 95 points (Tasted Aug 2020)
"Lovely dense, deep wine with ripe berry, spice, licorice and classy oak flavours. Long with great mouthfeel. A terrific balance with sweet fruit and ripe tannins gives a pleasantly drying finish." Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review - 95 points
"Powerful but silky smooth; elegance and fruit freshness beyond the normal; black fruits running through the length of the palate; ripe tannins, restrained oak. Another testament to 2002. Drink Now-2022." James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion - 94 points
"A stylish and relatively closed Bin 389 scented with dark plums and blackberries and dark chocolate-like aromas of sweet vanilla oak. Full to medium weight, it's long and smooth, with a rather shy palate of densely packed, pristine and lightly minty blackberry, dark plum and blackcurrant-like fruit tightly integrated with powdery and fine-grained tannins and smooth, lightly smoky oak. An atypical Penfolds, holding its cards close to its chest, but likely to age well. Drink 2014-2022." Jeremy Oliver - 93 points
"Fans of Penfolds Bin reds have been eagerly awaiting the 2002 vintage and they won't be disappointed. The '02 Bin 389 looks the best of this line for some years. It's dense with aromas of blackcurrant, plum, dark chocolate and smoky-sweet barrel ferment. The long velvety palate has lovely concentration and balanced ripe tannins. Ageing? Drink over 10 years." Ralph Kyte-Powell, Epicure Uncorked ★★★★★
"Lashings of blackberries, plum fruitcake, raspberries and blackcurrants still off the aroma base - a truly fruit focussed and centred red wine. Liquorice, dark chocolate and a distinctive earthiness also ensue but the fruit characters are the ones showing off. This red is still quite young and fresh, albeit the fruit is starting to meld together and some hints of secondary character are emerging. Ripe tannins, lingering long with blueberry and blackberry flavours with hints of allspice dominating on the finish. Good spicy oak, well melded and a lovely well roundedness and drinkability, albeit with a touch of warmth on the finish. Developing well and with a very good future in it. An excellent traditional Aussie red blend that showcases very well how the two varietals weave together seamlessly. I had this with oven baked lamb shanks and it went superbly." Paul Ippolito – 93 points
Awards
Penfolds Rewards of Patience tasting panel 2021 - 5/5 rating
The story of bin 389
Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz, often known as 'Baby Grange', is named after its original binning compartment at Magill cellars. First produced in 1960, its history is connected with the development of Grange and Max Schubert's ambition to create what he called 'a dynasty of wines' for Penfolds.
Early Bin 389 vintages were made with fruit from around the Adelaide foothills, including Auldana and Magill. According to retired Penfolds Senior Winemaker John Bird, a small portion of Morphett Vale fruit, parcels not used for Grange and sometimes McLaren Vale fruit were also included in the blend during the 1960s. After Penfolds vineyards around Adelaide were extensively pulled out to make way for urban development during the mid-1970s, Barossa Valley, particularly the Kalimna Vineyard,
became a dominant source of fruit.
Since the mid-1990s Bin 389 has drawn fruit from around South Australia, including Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, Padthaway, McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, Wrattonbully, Clare Valley and Robe. Exacting specifications of ripeness, classic Penfolds winemaking and strict classification of wines after maturation have ensured the style has remained consistent since the beginning.
Bin 389 epitomises Penfolds winemaking philosophy and the benefits of cross-varietal and multi-regional blending. Max Schubert always favoured warmer-climate fruit as a source for the wine. By marrying the perfume and chocolaty tannins of ripe cabernet sauvignon with opulent and fleshy shiraz he could achieve extra aromatic complexity, volume and palate richness. The style has been refined over the last 60 years through meticulous fruit selection, the introduction of new technology and winemaking refinements. During the 1960s, use of refrigeration and stainless steel enabled winemakers to preserve freshness; new membrane presses during the 1970s allowed gentler extraction of flavours and tannins.
Vineyard management practices and a rigorous fruit-grading system have also contributed to higher quality fruit. Nonetheless, the overall winemaking practices have not changed: the classical heading down in open fermenters, partial barrel fermentation and maturation in new and seasoned American oak (much used previously for Penfolds Grange and Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon) remain key Penfolds techniques.
Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz remains one of Australia's most popular collectible red wines because of its consistency and long-term cellaring potential.
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!'.
South Australia
South Australian is responsible for more than half the production of all Australian wine. It is home to more than 900 wineries across 18 wine regions. The regions are Adelaide Hills, Adelaide Plains, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Coonawarra, Currency Creek, Eden Valley, Kangaroo Island, Langhorne Creek, McLaren Vale, Mount Benson, Mount Gambier, Padthaway, Riverland, Robe, Southern Fleurieu, Southern Flinders Ranges and Wrattonbully.
Many of the well-known names in the South Australian wine industry established their first vineyards in the late 1830s and early 1840s. The first vines in McLaren Vale were planted at Reynella in 1839 and Penfold's established Magill Estate on the outskirts of Adelaide in 1844.
South Australia has a vast diversity in geography and climate which allows the State to be able to produce a range of grape varieties - from cool climate Riesling in the Clare and Eden Vallies to the big, full bodied Shiraz wines of the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale. Two of Australia's best-known wines, Penfolds Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace, are produced here. There is much to discover in South Australia for the wine lover.