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since 1844.
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2020 Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon

2020 Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon

The California Collection

2020 Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon excellence, reinforced by flagship-worthy South Australian cabernet. Matured in French and American oak, this 2020 release shows a dark fruit intensity with notes of black pepper and coffee liqueur. 

Napa Valley regional sourcing seeks to showcase strong tannic foundations, dark fruit intensity but with the added dimension of a unique “worldly” disposition. Matured in French and American oak, this release highlights Penfolds commitment to quality and winemaking approach.

Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage
2020
2020
Volume
750mL
750mL
Awards
97 Points - Huon Hooke
18+/20 Points Points - Matthew Jukes
96 Points - Tyson Stelzer
96 Points - Ken Gargett
95 Points - Erin Larkin
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149
2020 Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon
$200.00
Price
$200.00
Log in for exclusive benefits
$2,400.00
Price
$2,400.00
Log in for exclusive benefits
Log in for exclusive benefits
149
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The California Collection

2020 Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon excellence, reinforced by flagship-worthy South Australian cabernet. Matured in French and American oak, this 2020 release shows a dark fruit intensity with notes of black pepper and coffee liqueur. 

Napa Valley regional sourcing seeks to showcase strong tannic foundations, dark fruit intensity but with the added dimension of a unique “worldly” disposition. Matured in French and American oak, this release highlights Penfolds commitment to quality and winemaking approach.

2020 Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon
$200.00
Price
$200.00
Log in for exclusive benefits
$2,400.00
Price
$2,400.00
Log in for exclusive benefits
Log in for exclusive benefits
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage
2020
2020
Volume
750mL
750mL
Awards
97 Points - Huon Hooke
18+/20 Points Points - Matthew Jukes
96 Points - Tyson Stelzer
96 Points - Ken Gargett
95 Points - Erin Larkin

Awards & Accolades

97

Huon Hooke

"Bell-clear blueberry and cassis aromas, very cabernet, superbly ripe, backed by ample cedary/toasty/smoky oak; very stylish. Palate is elegant and intense, concentrated and refined, linear and suave, with a long, long carry. This really begs for time but has the elegance to drink well as a youngster too. Drink 2025 – 2043. 14.5% alc – 97 points"

18+/20

Matthew Jukes

"Hugely powerful and brooding, this immense wine shows a muscular and untamed side to the great Cabernet Sauvignon grape. If you imagine a potent, fully-ripe Shiraz that possesses Cabernet flavours, then this is it. If anything, it is too much – too much sweetness, too much oak and too much-misplaced brawn, but it certainly turns heads, and there will be people queueing up for it because it is the same shape and size as many of the fully-loaded Californian reds that I find too much in every respect."

96

Tyson Stelzer

"The concentration and ripe, deep black fruit presence of Napa cabernet is impressively presented here, framed in the grand structure of enduring, fine-grained tannins and tremendous drive and persistence. Acidity is well played to uphold dynamic brightness and purity on a driving finish of great potential. 92% Napa Valley, 8% South Australian Cabernet Sauvignon, 16 months maturation in 80% new French oak barriques and 20% new American oak barriques. Drink 2040-2060. 14.5% alc – 96 points."

Taste Description

Taste Description

2020 Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon

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Colour

Dark ruby red.

Nose

First, an abundance of dark fruits, condensed, concentrated, alluring. A confit of blackberries and mulberries. Crème de cassis. Hydrocarbon notes of tar and gravel arouse thoughts of freshly poured bitumen, morphing gradually into a flinty barrel ferment character. Chocolate éclair, icing sugar, fresh licorice and cola provide sweet notes, while lavender and violets add a floral perfume. Black pepper and umami notes of smoked beef offer further enticement.

Palate

A weighty palate that delivers on the aromatic inducement. Flavours of milk chocolate, tiramisu, cannoli and biscotti provide a ripe core, while sweet and sour mulberries hold court. There is a suggestion of macchiato espresso with a side nip of coffee liqueur. The savoury flavours lean towards seared beef, doused in black pepper and dropped onto a piping hot skillet. A lovely wine with a finely structured palate and a very long finish.

Vintage conditions

Vintage Conditions

The 2020 season in Napa Valley began with a warm, dry winter. Summer was characterised by very cool mornings and very warm days. The vintage proved to be one of the most challenging in history, with COVID restrictions and wildfires causing a range of logistical challenges. Nevertheless, our winemakers have leveraged small yields of high-quality, concentrated grapes to craft cabernet sauvignon of exceptional quality and intensity balanced by excellent acidity.

South Australia also had a fair measure of viticultural challenges. While bunch weights and berry numbers were generally low across the state, the harvest produced some outstanding fruit.

Our Californian Release

Our California journey started decades ago in the Camatta Hills vineyard, Paso Robles. In the 1980’s, we initiated an ambitious viticultural program in Australia called ‘Heritage Selections’. From our most prized vineyards, winemakers sought to identify single vineyards, blocks and vines that produced the best quality fruit. Cuttings from these exceptional Heritage Selections were then propagated and eventually sent across the world to California.

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