The quintessential Australian blend, where the structure of cabernet meets the richness of shiraz. A style Penfolds is revered for and one that is intricately tied to the story of Grange and Max Schubert’s dream of creating something different and lasting.
Penfolds cabernet shiraz marries bold cabernet tannins with the rich, velvety texture of shiraz. Max's dream, born from a trip to Bordeaux in 1950, combines these varietals into an enduring, harmonious 'Great Australian Red' blend – an iconic union creating a complex and vibrant flavour profile.
Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz is a wine that helped forge Penfolds reputation among red wine drinkers, showcasing our achievements with this blend and is one of the most popular wines on the Australian secondary wine market.
Another example of Penfolds cabernet shiraz is Bin 600, which blends quality grapes from premium sites across California, including Napa Valley and our own Camatta Hills Vineyard in Paso Robles.
Penfolds limited release Superblend wines showcase two interpretations of this remarkable blend – two siblings, differently assembled and raised in different environments. Both are crafted from A-grade cabernet sauvignon and shiraz, some of which were once destined for our flagships, underscoring our unwavering commitment to exploration and innovation.
The iconic blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz is recognised across the globe as the ‘Great Australian Red’ blend.
The intense fruit flavours and bold tannins of cabernet sauvignon are rounded by the rich and velvety mid-palate fruit flavours of shiraz, resulting in a complex flavour profile and a harmonious multi-varietal wine.
Both varietals express themselves distinctly in Australia to anywhere else in the world, thereby further enhancing the unique distinction of this beloved blend.
The origin of this uniquely Australian blend and one of our most sought-after and collected red wines, is intrinsically tied to the story of Grange.
In 1950, Penfolds first Chief Winemaker Max Schubert travelled to Bordeaux, where he discovered complex dry red wines capable of staying alive for multiple decades. He returned to Australia inspired to create "something different and lasting" and ultimately gave rise to our flagship wine, Grange. Through his years of trials and experiments, Max also developed a number of wines that continue to hold a prized place within the Penfolds Collection, including Bin 28 Shiraz, Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz and Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz.
Max Schubert’s ambition was not just for Grange, but also for a ‘dynasty of wines which all bear an unmistakable resemblance to each other’. The first vintage of Bin 389 was in 1960, and it received its name from its original binning storage compartment at the Magill cellars. Its unofficial name, ‘Baby Grange’, was given in part because components of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange.
This is often a question heard at wine tastings and events; however, the truth of the matter is that neither style is better or worse than the other – each has their merits.
Blended wines do often live up to the adage of being ‘greater than the sum of its parts’ as the components are able to fill supposed gaps – like that of two jigsaw pieces. Single varietal wines however are a pure expression of that varietal offering a complete picture among layers of complexity and intrigue.
Both cabernet sauvignon and shiraz make beautiful single varietal wines in their own right. Neither varietal is better than the other, and a blend comprising both varietals is no better or worse than their singular expressions. Each is an enjoyable yet distinct experience worthy of celebration.
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