Penfolds 2022 BIN 389

The Penfolds 2022 Bin 389, often affectionately referred to as ‘Baby Grange,’ once again delivers a stunning marriage of power and elegance. Crafted from a near-perfect blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Shiraz, this wine has long been a benchmark for Penfolds’ excellence, showcasing the structured tannins of Cabernet with the rich, luscious fruit of Shiraz. Its maturation in American oak hogsheads, 36% of which are new, brings out a beautiful integration of fruit and oak, a hallmark of this iconic wine. This vintage expresses a masterful balance of generous mid-palate fruit, layered complexity, and persistent tannins, delivering a truly memorable drinking experience.

Sourced from some of South Australia's most prestigious vineyard regions — McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, Padthaway, and Wrattonbully — the 2022 growing season presented both challenges and opportunities for Penfolds' viticultural team. In McLaren Vale, cooler-than-usual temperatures allowed for a leisurely harvest, ensuring optimal ripeness and vibrant fruit expression. Meanwhile, Coonawarra's spring frost was mitigated by the careful use of frost fans, protecting the fruit and allowing for a stellar ripening season, culminating in a bold expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. Barossa Valley and Padthaway faced cool, stormy conditions but ultimately yielded exceptional fruit quality thanks to careful vineyard management. Even Wrattonbully, with its above-average rainfall, produced ‘A grade’ fruit, demonstrating Penfolds' ability to excel under diverse conditions.

In the glass, the 2022 Bin 389 displays a glossy dark red with purple hues, a visual cue to its intensity. The nose offers an old-school Penfolds profile, where mahogany and cigar box mingle with sweet oak spice and a touch of dustiness. Beneath this, vibrant red currants, cranberries, and summer berries shine, complemented by subtle hints of baking spices and freshly baked pastries. The aromatics alone hint at the wine’s ability to age gracefully over the coming decades.

On the palate, smooth, cocoa powder-like tannins provide structure without overwhelming the fruit. The Cabernet Sauvignon shines with cool, lifted fruits, while the Shiraz contributes layers of plum, blackberry, and mulberry, all punctuated by the tartness of morello cherries. Barrel fermentation nuances bring depth, while rustic sourdough notes add an earthy complexity to this otherwise fruit-driven wine. With a drinking window that stretches from 2025 to 2050, the 2022 Bin 389 promises to evolve into a true collector's piece, delivering both immediate pleasure and long-term reward for the patient enthusiast.

Alcohol: 14.5%

97 POINTS - "The happy marriage of Cabernet Sauvignon (51%) with Shiraz (49%) rarely looks as cosy or integrated than in this stellar example. A generous mid-palate shows off fine long fruit flavours from the slow-ripening 2022 vintage, with ruddy Shiraz ripeness in step with the more tannic bite of Cabernet Sauvignon’s blackberry and mulberry adding a moreish savoury note. With 36% new American oak hogsheads used for 12 months’ maturation, there’s just enough oak-influenced spice to provide adequate seasoning to the deep, pure flavours." - Decanter

95 POINTS - "This is a delightful 2022 Bin 389, a blend of 51% Cabernet and 49% Shiraz fruit from McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, Padthaway and Wrattonbully. The 2022 is a benchmark vintage - effortless with effusive aromas of cassis, licorice and blackberry topped by a nice touch of graphite. Classically styled, with a firm base of tannins and vibrant flavors that nicely balance the finish that just goes on and on. A little shy right now, but everything is in its perfect place for a long and distinguished future." - Vinous

94 POINTS - "Generous and impressive for its seamlessness, this is like a slice of Black Forest cake, offering chocolate and cherry flavors that are practically creamy and plush. Dutched cocoa powder, dried herb and cigar box nuances amplify this red on the long finish, with velvety tannins alongside hints of fresh loam and clove. Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Drink now through 2036." - Wine Spectator

94 POINTS - "This opaque Cab-Shiraz blend needs plenty of aeration before revealing its charms. When it does, it's led by blackberry and blood plum with undercurrents of charred root vegetables, coffee and licorice, and a lick of toasty oak. Tightly wound, chalk-dust tannins make room for the supple fruit on the dense, shapely palate. One for the cellar, this should really start to shine in another 7-10 years." - Wine Enthusiast

93 POINTS - "The 2022 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz is a dense beast of a wine, and the many lovers of the style will will experience paroxysms of pleasure, in that this delivers the muscle, density and concentration of yore. It is powerfully tannic, abundantly fruitful and long through the finish. What more can be said of a wine like this other than that it is a firm style, made consistently year in and year out. Aniseed, nutmeg, cinnamon and malt populate the register of spices from the charry oak. This is a big, big wine. It is composed of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Shiraz, sourced from a blend of McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Barossa Valley, Padthaway and Wrattonbully." - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

93 POINTS - "A crunchy and delicious blend with currant, blackberry and cedar aromas and flavors. Hints of bitter lemon, graphite and tar at the end." - James Suckling

Colour:Glossy, dark red/purple.

Nose: An “old school” Penfolds nose; a classic and comforting homage to our storied past. It opens with the rich, deep tones of mahogany and the refined scent of a cigar box. Sweet oak spices are neatly interlaced with a dusty character. This foundation is lifted by summer berries, offering a balance between richness and vitality. Baking spice is present alongside tart red currant and cranberry, while the aroma of fresh pastries rounds out the note.

Palate: The palate is immediately enveloped by cocoa powder-like tannins — smooth yet profound in their impact. The wine boasts volumes of Cabernet character, showcasing cool fruits that are well lifted and vibrant. A barrel ferment nuance adds depth without overshadowing the fruit’s purity. Sourdough notes bring a rustic edge which complement the lush profiles of plum fruits, blackberry, mulberry, wild cherries and more distinctly tart morello cherries.