I’ve personally experienced over 30-vintages of Penfolds Bin red wines and worked for them in Australia for ten wonderful years 1985-1995. No one in NZ knows these wines better than I do, has been exposed to so many vintages or whose business has been at the forefront of championing them to the top of the shopping list for so many red wine drinkers.
Wines of the Year 2011
The Top 12 Wines of 2011
Hi from Matt
Now that we’ve come to the end of the year, it seems appropriate to reflect on the stand-out wines of 2011. Thinking back, it’s incredible how clearly the greatest wine experiences over 365 days of wine tasting and enjoyment rise to the forefront. Identifying my Top 12 Wines Of 2011 was straightforward, the hard part was securing extra allocations. For example, a mere 85 cases were made of my top New Zealand Pinot, Rippon ‘Tinkers Field’ 2009, so I was only able to secure an additional 24 bottles above the generous allocation we had already received.
While certainly not the cheapest wines I tasted, they were far from the most expensive wines, and in most cases they represent fantastic value. These are the wines that I stocked my personal cellar with this year, and I can’t recommend them highly enough. They are available this week on a strict first-reply basis.
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Video Interview: Jeff chats with Jamie Sach about the new Penfolds Bins
Jeff caught up with Jamie from Penfolds while he was in NZ. Check out the videos below.
FWDC Cellar Journal – “Australia’s Most Important Red Wine Producer” Robert Parker Jnr
“Australia’s most iconic winery”
Decanter Magazine
“Australia’s most important red wine producer”
Robert Parker
“Australia’s most established maker of investment quality red wine.”
Jancis Robinson MW
Penfolds is arguably Australia’s most iconic and best-loved winery. Penfolds’ first vineyard was founded in 1844 at Magill, South Australia, by Dr Christopher Rawson Penfold. Today they are internationally esteemed for rich, long-lived red wines including Saint Henri, RWT, Bin 707 as well as the legendary Penfolds Grange.
Nothing epitomises the Penfolds story more than the legendary Grange. Described by Jancis Robinson as “Australia’s most famous fine wine”, Grange encapsulates Penfolds pioneering spirit, quest for greatness and winemakers’ determination to produce the very best wine, irrespective of market fashions.
Grange was the brainchild of the great Max Schubert who, as chief winemaker at the time, travelled to Bordeaux in 1950 where he was hosted by Christian Cruse and was enchanted by the 40-50 year old clarets that he tasted. On his return he set out to craft a red wine of equal greatness and longevity of what he had tried there.
Jeff’s Review of the Penfolds Stunning NEW Reds
Hi from Jeff,
I’ve personally been involved with Penfolds Wines for 34-years and for 10 of those years I worked with them in Australia so I have a special appreciation for their history and greatness; I’ve tasted Bin wines made as far back as the 1960’s and Grange from the 1950’s plus collected these great reds over several decades for my own enjoyment.
These latest 2008 and 2009 Bin red wine releases are as good as I have ever tasted. It is my personal belief that current Chief Winemaker Peter Gago (only the 4th in over 60-years) will in the fullness of time be judged the most influential figure in the evolution of these iconic wines since legendary founding winemaker; the late and dear Max Schubert.
Which reminds me; there is a remarkable tale of Max’s courage, perseverance and belief in creating the Grange and Penfolds legacy, it is called ‘Max Schubert Winemaker’ and is authored by Huon Hooke (first published in 1994). I’ve read it a couple of times and I recommend you seek out this intriguing and inspirational tale.
This year also herald’s the release of a new Bin red – Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz, a full bodied pure bred Barossa Shiraz that sits in the illustrious company of 389 and 407 (see below for full details).
Finally the 2nd release of the Bin 23 Pinot Noir from the Adelaide Hills is a very lavish experience but definitively Pinot in taste with a classic rich sweet and savoury palate and likely to age over a 7-10 period.
See below for our tasting notes and when you’re looking to purchase – click for the two GREATEST Penfolds wine offers in NZ this year.
Jeff
Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
The crown jewel of the Bin releases 389 is often referred to as “Baby Grange” because components of Bin 389 are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange and they don’t come better than this striking 2008 release. New aromas appear every time your swirl the glass; notes of black forest gateaux, chocolate fudge icing, sweet black cherry, vanilla, black currant… I could go on! Further confirmation of its pedigree shows in the saturation of black fruits, mocha, liquorice and spices, refined spicy oak and refreshing blueberry infused finish. Without doubt this is a 20+ year wine, but don’t be afraid to decant a bottle with a good Beef Fillet, Enjoy!
Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon
407 lovers should quickly load up their cellars with this gorgeous 2008 release that has classic Cabernet aromas of graphite, cassis, currants and brambly spices. Those characters transcend into the taught, flavoursome layers of the palate enhanced by liquorice, olive tapenade and wild berries wrapped in aristocratic tannin and warm savoury oak. Finishing with power, finesse and freshness this stunning 2008 will be at its best circa 2020 – 2025 if professionally stored.
Bin 150 Shiraz (New Release)
This stunning new Marananga is the epitome of full bodied Barossa Shiraz. Its striking aromas of black fruits, vanilla, desiccated coconut and savoury spices allude to the endless tide of Black Barossa fruits laced with tastes of aniseed, sweet black cherry, kirsch and spices. Deeply impressive its final act is to seduce you with hints of black forest gateaux and dark coffee beans. This limited premium Shiraz will quickly join the ranks of 389 & 407 at the top of the Penfolds Bin releases, Enjoy 2012 – 2020+
Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz
Bin 28 is legendary among South Australian wine aficionados; it’s big, ripe and packed with flavour but so very smooth and creamy. Our team can’t remember tasting one better than this stunning 2008 effort although Jeff says “I would class it equal or better than the legendary 1998”. The deep consuming aromas of black fruits, violets, sweet oak, vanilla, black olive and blueberry quite literally causes a moment of meditation while the powerful yet incredibly layered and smooth palate leaves an impression of $50+ dollar Shiraz. Buy as much as you can but remember the best rewards come to those with patience, Cheers!
Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz
The elegant alter ego to Bin 28, Bin 128 is aged in a mixture of new and seasoned French hogsheads helping to accentuate the pepper, spice and floral characteristics of Coonawarra. Aromatically a wonderful contrast of spicy/savoury tones comes first followed by hints of refined red fruits and soy. There are plenty of boysenberry, raspberry and milk chocolate tastes to savour on the palate plus a coating of fine grain coco tannin adding interest and feel. It’s all together rather irresistible now however there’s no doubt this epic vintage will still be drinking in ten years time, Enjoy!
Bin 138 Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre
138’s Grenache dominant red blend is so aromatically alluring and seductively flavoured it’s like nothing you’ve experienced before. Smelling of spring flowers, fresh black berry and black liquorice the pinot-esque (silky) like palate harbours a deep, creamy collection of cola, chocolate and black plum flavours. According to Peter Gago “The best-to-date Grenache predominant 138” and we’re in absolute agreement. Enjoy now and through 2016+
click for the two GREATEST Penfolds wine offers in NZ this year.
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