Bin 128 Shiraz was released shortly after Penfolds acquired prime terra rossa vineyards in Coonawarra. Like Bin 28 Shiraz, it is a popular collectible red and often outperforms expectations as a medium-term drinking wine.
Bin 128 Shiraz is an atypical Penfolds style because of its single-region origins and the swinging tendency of Coonawarra s weather, which is affected by both continental and maritime climates. This can result in variable growing conditions and differing vintage characters.
Significant investment in vineyard management has yielded more consistent fruit over the last 15 years, which is clearly seen in the wine s recent quality increase. Nonetheless, the style is distinctly Penfolds with some components completing fermentation in French oak hogsheads. Bin 128 Shiraz is a classic cool-climate Coonawarra Claret style with medium-term potential although the best vintages have a lasting quality.
A fascinating lineup showing more light than shade. DR NEIL BECKETT, PhD
1990 ««««« Drink now to 2025.
Medium-deep crimson. Attractive blackberry, raspberry, graphite and demi-glace aromas with leafy tobacco and celery leaf notes. Concentrated and slightly soupy wine with blackberry, raspberry, demi-glace and meaty flavours, fine chalky tannins and supple, sweet fruited mid-palate. Finishes chalky firm and tight. Still holding up well.
A little on the wild side although remarkably fresh for a 30-year-old wine. Quite earthy and mushroomy with layered richness on the palate and slightly drying tannins at the finish. (NB)
A fragile wine with a pinot-like delicacy, but the fruit is beginning to dry out. (JR)
1991 TO 1997 Drink now to past.
When published in 2013, The Rewards of Patience Edition 7 recommended that all of these wines were at the peak of their enjoyment. While many bottles will be holding there is some variability.
1998 ««««« Drink now to 2030.
Medium-deep crimson. Fresh developed blackberry, dried plum, mulberry, roasted chestnut and bitumen aromas. Generous and supple with plentiful sweet fruit and choco-berry flavours, fine loose-knit savoury tannins and integrated mocha oak. Finishes grainy firm with al dente grippy notes. A classic aged Coonawarra red.
A Claret-like style with dried cherry, dried roses, tobacco notes and fine tannins. Very graceful and seamless in texture. (JR)
Distinct herbal-cedar nose with medicinal dried fruit notes. Delicious savouriness on the palate with softened tannins and a lovely sweet fruited finish. (FW)
1999 «««« Drink now to 2028.
Medium-deep crimson. Intense dark chocolate, blackberry and raspberry fruits with graphite chestnut/wintergreen notes. Inky palate with choco-berry fruits, plentiful graphite tannins and underlying savoury oak complexity. Finishes cedar firm and minerally.
A close-knit elegant wine still showing marvellous integration and intensity of fruit, fine linear tannins, attractive richness and long fresh acidity. (NB)
A distinctly savoury wine with spicy earthy minty aromas and drying tannins. (JR)
2000 «« Mostly past.
Now entering its third decade, it remains a lightweight wine without the density and impact for long-term aging. Drink now.
2001 ««« Drink now.
A ripe and generous plummy style with attractive fruit volume and plentiful velvety firm tannins. Secondary tobacco leafy characters have emerged.
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